Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extraordinarily important issue. Before I answer her directly, may I acknowledge the fact that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made the decision to step down as leader of the Green Party? Obviously, he has played a major leadership role in this coalition, and I want to acknowledge that. He is an honest, sincere, dedicated and decent politician. He is a person of substance and a person who has had a positive impact on Irish politics and I fully respect and understand his reasons. I just want to wish him well.

The answer to Deputy McDonald’s question is “Yes”. We absolutely want to continue doing more in this area. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is leading the very significant whole-of-government – and, I hope and believe, whole-of-society – response that Deputy McDonald rightly called for in this regard. The Women’s Aid report makes for stark reading. The findings of the report are, quite frankly, appalling. There is no place in Irish society for violence against women or, indeed, violence against anyone. I want to reassure anyone who is a victim or is at risk of domestic or sexual abuse that help continues to be available. I urge anyone who is in fear or danger due to domestic abuse or any crime to please contact gardaí as soon as can be done safely. I will get into the specific issues. There are challenges and a need to do more, but I never want to accidentally put out a message that people cannot seek help in the here and now. If people are in danger right now, all of us in the House would urge them to seek the support of the Garda and others as soon as they can do so safely.

We have taken a number of steps aimed at protecting women against such abuse. We have shown that combating all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority. This has been reflected in a whole range of actions. For example, we saw the establishment earlier this year by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, of Cuan, our statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency. This is now tasked with co-ordinating and driving the full implementation of our zero-tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

The 2024 plan for the strategy has a number of very specific actions. It commits to exploring models for the delivery of domestic violence refuge accommodation and identifying opportunities to accelerate delivery to meet this target. I want to absolutely assure the Deputy and, more importantly, the women and people of Ireland that we are looking at how we can accelerate further delivery of refuge spaces, particularly in the areas where there is a deficit. The 2024 implementation plan sets out a number of deliverables on refuge spaces by the end of the year. Active planning and engagement are under way on the delivery of 150 additional family refuge units. There is the delivery of eight new family refuge units, ensuring that 25 additional family refuge units are now under construction as well. We are commencing the publication of quarterly reports on progress towards doubling the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, with an accessible tracking mechanism so that we can all collectively monitor the progress that we want to make. The development of the first 36 refuge units in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan is currently under way, with Wexford expected to be operational by September. In addition, 17 more safe homes were delivered last year and 13 more safe homes are expected to be delivered by the end of this year.

Of course, refuge space is a major issue that we are addressing through the strategy and the new agency but, in addition to that, there are also new laws. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has introduced legislation that creates new stand-alone offences of non-fatal strangulation and stalking and has increased the maximum penalty for assault causing harm, one of the most commonly prosecuted domestic violence-related offences, from five years to ten years. We have also seen the highest level of funding provided to service providers working in this area.

We will not rest, I know the Deputy will not rest and I know the people of Ireland will not rest until we get to that zero-tolerance destination when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. That is something we can all be united on in this House. We are eager to work with anybody on any side of the House to make progress in this area.

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