Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure. It is hard for me to answer that. In terms of my actions, I do not think I personally was guilty of racial bias, nor was my party. I met the family and their legal team. I also contacted the Garda but did not meet with the gardaí involved. It is my view that we should allow an investigation to take place. That is just me; I cannot speak for other politicians, RTÉ or the media. I do not think the Deputy is accusing me of racial bias but if he is, I do not think it is a fair charge.

On Deputy Boyd Barrett’s question on families with children in emergency accommodation for a prolonged period – for years, as he put it – I agree it is not acceptable. It is unacceptable that anybody should be in emergency accommodation for a prolonged period, particularly for several years. I will raise it at the housing committee, which will happen next week and with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien. I agree they should be prioritised. It has probably been done already - I am not sure - but we would need to drill down into the details behind why people are in emergency accommodation for such a prolonged period. I know of some cases where accommodation was offered but turned down. I am sure that is not all or most cases, but it is some cases. That is different. In some cases, families may not be eligible for social housing because they are from overseas. There are different circumstances. We would need to drill down and understand better why people might be in emergency accommodation for such a prolonged period, which should not happen. I agree they should be prioritised.

I express my deep concern at the figures in the Women's Aid report and the fact there is such a high level of violence against women and domestic and gender-based violence. It is something the Government takes seriously. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is showing enormous leadership in the actions she is taking to deal with it. As Deputies will be aware, much work is being done to establish a new agency to help us tackle gender-based and domestic violence.

The Minister, Deputy McEntee, favours the establishment of a domestic violence register. Domestic violence leave will be coming into effect quite soon. We are also making progress on refuge spaces, in particular. As a start, we have committed to doubling the number of refuge spaces and are working to deliver additional safe homes and step-down accommodation. The development of 24 units is now under way, at the moment in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. The units will all be providing next year. There will be 98 further units in priority locations by 2025, along with a further 19 additional and upgraded units by the end of the strategy period.

See this speech in context