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

This is not the first time we have had to come together in the face of violent and horrifying circumstances. The murder of Ashling Murphy continues to weigh heavily on all of our hearts and our thoughts remain with her family and partner, as well as with the families of all the other women who have been killed by men in this country.

The femicide watch list, compiled by Women’s Aid, names 20 women whose lives were brutally cut short since Ashling’s murder. We remember and honour these women as we continue our fight against a deep-rooted issue in our society that allows such violence to exist. There is an epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in this country. It has not just appeared; it has always been here and we must deal with it.

My Department commissioned the Central Statistics Office to carry out a sexual violence prevalence survey, which was published last year. The results are not only shocking but really sad. It is sad that this is where we are. The report states that 40% of respondents had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; 21% of women had non-consensual sexual intercourse; 23% were victims of attempted sexual intercourse; and 43%, or almost half of women, were victims of sexual touching.

Since my first day in the Department of Justice, I have worked with colleagues to do what I, and all of us, can to end this epidemic and make our system a better one which is more supportive for victims and survivors. One of my first acts as Minister was to publish the O’Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences. I published and started to implement Supporting a Victim's Journey, a plan based on that review. This plan sets out 50 individual reforms and assigns responsibility within Government for each of these reforms.

In doing this work, above all, I have listened to the experience of victims and of those on the front line. I commend those victims and all of those whom I have met. I commend individuals like Natasha O’Brien, Bláthnaid Raleigh and so many others for speaking out and continuing to highlight areas in which we need to do more. I am working with colleagues across the Government to do just that, namely, to embed the fight against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence into every area of our work and build a truly equal and safe society.

We have driven change through a variety of measures, including comprehensive legislative reforms; the co-design with stakeholders of our zero-tolerance strategy; a significant increase in funding for combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and to improve our services; an increased focus on education and awareness raising initiatives; and the establishment of a stand-alone agency to continue this work. Every action has a timeline and a body assigned to deliver it.

What we have achieved in the past four years - and by "we", I mean both those working in the sector and all of us across this House - has shown the determination across the board to achieve change in how domestic, sexual and gender-based violent crimes are viewed by society, change in how victims and survivors are treated and supported, including in their future needs, and change of our laws to better hold perpetrators to account. Fundamentally, it is about the determination across the board to change societal attitudes so that we become a country in which there is zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and the attitudes which underpin it.

This work has resulted in progress in the last four years, although I fully accept there is more work to do. We have made progress, however. We have successfully passed laws that broaden the scope of how we define domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to ensure more forms of abuse are recognised and punishable under law. We have doubled the maximum sentence for assault causing harm from five to ten years, which is one of the most commonly prosecuted offences in domestic and gender-based violence cases. We have legislated to introduce new stand-alone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation because both offences are common ways in which abusers target victims. We have widened the existing offence of harassment to include any conduct that seriously interferes with a person’s peace and privacy or causes alarm, distress or harm. We have ensured the protection of the identity of victims of harassment and stalking in court proceedings.

The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023, which I commenced last year, further strengthens our already robust system for monitoring sex offenders. Other legislative reforms have extended restrictions on perpetrators cross-examining victims and have provided for preliminary trial hearings to reduce delays and improve what we all know is a hugely traumatic process for victims. The enactment of Coco’s Law criminalises the distribution and threat to distribute intimate images without consent, which is another appalling way by which abusers control victims. The roll-out of divisional protective service units across the country has been completed, meaning that in every Garda division there are specially trained officers to help vulnerable victims. We will do more to ensure that all members of An Garda Síochána have the training they need.

We have also persistently promoted raising awareness around domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

This in particular is to change societal attitudes towards it by highlighting the importance of respect, consent and equality. All of the campaigns we have run aim to prevent violence before it occurs and foster a culture that supports victims and shows that society stands in solidarity with them. Recognising domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a global issue, we have engaged in international co-operation to share best practices and to learn from other countries.

A key element of delivering on the zero tolerance strategy is the establishment of Cuan, our new domestic sexual and gender-based violence agency, at the beginning of this year. Within the span of just one year, by passing legislation, we collectively transformed aspirations into concrete action. Cuan stands as a beacon of progress, signalling our collective commitment to address issues that have long demanded urgent attention. Its establishment marks a pivotal moment in our approach to combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and, above all, to supporting victims. Cuan is now responsible for co-ordinating all Government actions set out in the zero tolerance strategy and we recently published the implementation plan for 2024. Key actions this year include work on the national services development plan, working to ensure that the services in place are uniform and accessible to everybody and that there is multi-annual funding for the services so that they can plan ahead. They have fought for this for a long time.

To increase refuge spaces and safe homes, a huge amount of work has been done with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to put the right structures in place. This not just about bricks and mortar; it is about the services and supports that are needed to protect women when they take the decision to leave home. Work is also progressing to try to keep women and victims in their homes. That is where they should be, not fleeing elsewhere.

We are progressing legislative reform and evaluating the effectiveness of awareness-raising campaigns and the development of a research and data plan to support the collation of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence information across all Departments and agencies. I will focus in particular on the area of education where an emphasis on respect, consent and zero tolerance of violence is needed now more than ever. We have made strides in this regard. The new relationship sexuality education, RSE, curriculum for the junior cycle is being rolled out. We are at the stage now in the senior cycle, for those who are ready, that we will be able to roll it out in September. Beyond that, we need to be engaging with our primary school students in an age-appropriate way. I say this because, as the Taoiseach said, we have moved into a new phase in which young people have access to violence and violent pornography at the touch of a button on their phones. As we continue Government efforts, there is an onus on parents, educators and social media companies to ensure that our young people are protected by being prepared and equipped to deal with what they come across online. It is frightening to see and read research suggesting the things young people feel they are expected to do at a much younger age. We need to do everything we can to protect and support them.

Understanding the extent of the problem we face and shining a light on the under-reporting of these crimes are also key to better supporting victims. That is why my Department commissioned the Central Statistics Office, CSO, to undertake a study on the prevalence of sexual violence. I am pleased to say that work has finally begun on a survey of the prevalence of domestic violence to further help us to develop policy and provide the necessary supports and services. These studies will alternate over the coming years to ensure we have an up-to-date and clear picture of what is happening in our society.

The zero tolerance strategy also ensures that the voice of the child is heard loud and clear as we work to eliminate domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In so many of these cases, children are victims too, not just in being a victim but witnessing what happens to their mother or sometimes their father. Unfortunately, it is generally to their mother. We have to do what we can because we know the lasting effects and the impact it has on them.

There is more to do. Our programme of reform is far from finished and when people like Natasha and Bláthnaid speak openly and honestly about finding the criminal justice system as traumatising, if not more so, than the attack itself, it makes us all determined to redouble our efforts. In the next two weeks, before the summer recess, with the support of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, legislation will be enacted to further support and protect victims of sexual crimes, as recommended by the O’Malley review. These protections include ensuring anonymity for victims in all trials for sexual offences and extending the victim’s right to separate legal representation. There will be changes around character references and I am working towards changes to criminal legislation to address other key issues of concern for victims, including counsellor notes and issues of consent.

Further to this, work is also needed to protect those who are most vulnerable. We think of those who are most vulnerable and where there is an intersectionality, namely, migrant populations, the LGBTQI+ community and people with disabilities. This work will progress, as a priority, through Cuan.

Beyond legislative changes, I will continue to negotiate in the budget Estimates to make sure we have the funding and resources to do all of this work and more. My sincere commitment to tackling this pervasive issue remains. I know victims and survivors deserve more and I will continue working with them, with my Government colleagues, Cuan and everyone in the sector to do just that. We all have a role here and everybody must step up and play their part. I hope we can do so together.

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