Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As everyone in this House knows, being a Member of the Oireachtas is a great privilege but with that privilege comes a great responsibility. The reason it is a privilege and there is such a responsibility is we are the people who make laws for everyone in this country. Coming with that, there is a requirement on us to be aware, when we enact laws and debate, that what we are doing is correct. We need information to do that. If we want to combat any particular type of criminal activity, it is essential that we have up-to-date information in respect of that activity. If we were to introduce legislation in respect of financial crimes or fraud, we would need the information as to how those crimes were being perpetrated in society. Similarly, if we are serious about trying to combat the incidence of sexual violence in our society, it is essential that we have up-to-date, timely and accurate information in respect of the incidence of those crimes in our society. That is why it is so important that we have this report from the CSO.

It has probably been more than 20 years since a previous survey was done on the incidence of sexual offences in Ireland. That was done through the sexual abuse and violence in Ireland, SAVI, report from the early part of this century. Having a report from the CSO is of even greater benefit than the SAVI report because it comes with the absolute professionalism and independence of the office. We now know from the information before us about the incidence and, I regret to say, the prevalence of sexual violence in our society. We also know it is accurate because this report was conducted by the office over seven months, from May to December 2022, on 4,500 respondents. As politicians, we all know the accuracy of that type of polling. More important, we also know that these people were contacted by the CSO - they could not opt in themselves - and they filled out the survey privately. What we have here, I regret to say, is extremely accurate information in respect of the incidence of sexual violence in our society.

As others speakers have indicated, this report reveals a very troubling set of data. What is most troubling from my point of view is that 21% of women in Ireland reported experiencing non-consensual sexual intercourse over their lifetime. That is an astonishing statistic. Looking back at the SAVI report, a similar statistic was produced 20 years ago. The percentage of men who experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse over their lifetime was 5%. There can be no doubt anymore about the incidence and, I regret to say, the prevalence of sexual crime in our society. As policymakers, I think we were aware of that and in the legislation we have introduced over the past five to ten years, we have recognised the rising incidence of sexual violence in Ireland.

The legislation we have introduced has been very useful and beneficial but, as other speakers said, it is not simply a matter of trying to change the law. Other organs of the State need to play their part as well and I think they are doing so. There are greater prosecutions in respect of sexual offences in the courts. It is apparent from speaking to practitioners that juries are now more likely to be less sympathetic to persons accused of sexual offences. Previously, going through the criminal process was a very difficult experience for victims of sexual offences. I know it is still a difficult experience but I think the Courts Service, the DPP and, in particular, An Garda Síochána are making the process more welcoming and more acceptable for people who are victims of sexual offences.

When we look at the incidence of sexual violence and the role that can be played by this House of the Oireachtas and the courts, we recognise that this is really a societal problem. We will never be able to resolve it unless we recognise that we need a societal response to it. What comes with that is recognition that we and everyone in society have a responsibility to emphasise the essential nature of consent when it comes to any sexual encounter between people. We talk about consent being important but we all have a responsibility as politicians, citizens and parents to inform people, particularly people who are developing and growing up, as they get to their teenage years, about the absolute imperative that if they are going to engage in a sexual encounter with another person, they have to be absolutely satisfied that that sexual encounter is consensual and that the other party is comfortable engaging in that sexual activity.

Many sexual encounters in Ireland, of course, take place with the involvement of alcohol. Let us be honest about this. That clearly seems to be the case. It is important that we emphasise to younger people that because they have taken alcohol, they need to be much more careful than would otherwise be the case. Alcohol has an impact and reduces people's sensibilities and awareness. Young boys who are taking drink, in particular, and any partners who are taking drink too, have to be more careful than ever when it comes to sexual engagements when alcohol has been taken that there is full consent.

This report will be enormously impactful and of huge assistance to policymakers in years to come. The CSO is going to set out a series of other reports over the next months based on the surveys that they conducted between May and December 2022. I hope this will become a regular survey that will take place every five or seven years. It is essential that we are aware of it. We have a fairly stark indication of where sexual violence is in this country at present. Let us hope that when the next CSO report comes out, we will see a decline in it. Let us hope people will feel more comfortable about coming forward and reporting sexual crimes that have been perpetrated against them. One of the most astonishing statistics contained in the report, hidden near the end of it, which is not one of the top findings, is that in the case of 500 of the 4,500 people who were randomly selected, the first time they ever reported the sexual violence to which they had been subjected was when they filled out this survey. It is astonishing that there were people who had never told anyone about a sexual assault that had been perpetrated against them other than the CSO.

This is a problem in society that has probably been hidden for many years. We have not spoken sufficiently about it. In the past 20 years or so, we have begun to speak about it more openly. We need the information and unless we have information about its incidence and prevalence, we as policymakers will not be able to respond. I want to conclude by commending the Minister of State on the work she is doing in respect of this issue. It is essential for young Irish people to know that they can enjoy their sexual engagement and at the centre of that, they must be absolutely, 100% satisfied that when they engage in sexual activity with other people, that activity is done on an absolutely consensual basis.

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