Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join other colleagues who have acknowledged the great bravery and courage of Natasha O'Brien and Bláthnaid Raleigh. It takes a great deal of courage to come forward and it is important because it leads to discussions such as this and to a focus on the huge challenges that are there. The scale of this problem is frightening and what is worrying is that in many respects it seems to be getting worse. The Women's Aid annual report from last year detailed 40,000 reports, which is an 18% increase in disclosures of domestic abuse compared to the previous year. This was the highest ever number received by that organisation in its 50 years. Disclosures of physical abuse had risen by 74% of economic abuse by 87%. It is difficult to establish whether this is due to an increased level of reporting or an increased level of incidence. It is very likely some of both but that scale of increase is extremely worrying and points to the depth of this problem and the scale of the challenge.

A great deal more is needed in terms of policy. Some of these issues are social as well, particularly for men and it is our responsibility to speak to our sons, brothers and friends to try to challenge the attitudes out there. A lot had been said about that and it is worth noting that the evidence supports it. A 2020 WHO survey of interventions based on dozens of studies in the areas of sexual and reproductive rights and addressing gender equality, including tackling gender violence, highlighted that when men and boys are directly included in interventions the outcomes are much more likely to be successful. There are many examples of successful interventions across the world that can be taken on board here. The research suggests that the question is no longer whether to include boys and men but how to do so to ensure they promote gender equality. That is a crucially important area.

The issue of sentencing has come up. It has long been a concern of mine that sentencing is, in many instances, inconsistent, difficult to explain and, in some cases, just inappropriate. We have seen examples of that. This is a priority of mine. I worked very hard with the then Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, to secure the sentencing guidelines committee. I regret it has not proceeded more quickly. I understand the work it has to do is complex and data has to be gathered but at this point, four or five years on from the passing of the legislation, it is now time. When guidelines are in place, such as in Britain, adherence to them is strong and they have a beneficial impact. It is time for the Judicial Council and relevant committees to move on with providing guidelines. I appreciate the work is complex but it is vitally important.

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