Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank all of my colleagues for their support in the passing of these Stages. This is extremely important legislation, not least because of what it means for the future. It will ensure that irrespective of who is in this Chamber and what year we are in, the issue of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will remain firmly on the agenda. It will allow for the establishment of an agency for the first time whose sole focus and responsibility will be combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, working collectively with all of the wonderful organisations and support services that have been doing amazing work for many years. It places a particular focus on it and, above all, it puts the structures in place for the future to make sure that we continue to deal with what is an absolute epidemic not just in this country, but globally. Again, I thank colleagues for their support and, indeed, my own team and also those working in those space. Above all, I acknowledge victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. It is their lived experience and it is because of them that we have this legislation here today.

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