Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that it is on target and the positive development, but my cynicism, for which I beg forgiveness, is born of burned-in experience. We had the task force in 1995 or 1996 and then we had three strategies. We have had any amount of debate on the subject. In the meantime, there have been deaths, five this year alone. There were 12 last year. That was the worst figure in over a decade. I could quote more figures. This is upsetting, so we need action. We now have a third strategy and the promise of an agency. The Minister tells us it is on schedule. I hear that.

The report the Minister referred to has 21 recommendations. The National Women’s Council criticised the general scheme for its failure to include survivors or civil-society groups. It also referred to the lack of power invested in the agency to oblige Departments to act. The audit that referred to the fragmentation of services was one of three reports. This is where I am coming from in holding the Government to account.

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