Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We all understand, and I think the figures show, but I am subject to correction on this, that in 90% of the cases where women suffer domestic violence, the perpetrators are known to them. We must start on this basis. It is not a random issue. We must take it that something of a more insidious nature is happening behind the scenes before it comes to light in many of these situations. I agree with the Deputy on the interim measures. Some of these refuges were built through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which was the traditional way of providing funding. Now, however, it is very good that all this effort is being centred in the Department of Justice. We would, however, need a transition of the funding, the approach and the expertise that exists in respect of building the refuges that exist now and for work in this regard to be undertaken closely with the Department of Justice in the interim.

The Deputy was quite right when she said we need to do some work with the local authorities in terms of housing during the period when an emergency arises. Perhaps the local authorities can have a role in this regard.

One thing I wish to say, and I think most of us will know, is that the Garda has really stepped up its involvement in this issue in the past couple of years. I have referred several times to the example I know of in the case of every incident that happens in my area, where the Garda drops everything and members of the force are out to the location as quickly as humanly possible. The Garda has given the number one priority to addressing domestic abuse across all the regions in the country. This is visible and noticeable, so much so that, and I say this light-heartedly, if it is possible to say such a thing in a debate such as this one, I have had people who have complained about antisocial behaviour in an area who ring the Garda and they know that domestic violence cases come before any other event happening in a locality. I compliment the officers of the Garda for their understanding and the kind nature of many of the gardaí in the areas where they deal with these situations. We do, though, need interim measures to be put in place until the full strategy is implemented in the interests of the women who are suffering.

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