Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If anyone was in any doubt about the issues we have regarding domestic or gender-based violence, anyone who has heard Natasha O'Brien or Bláthnaid Raleigh speak could have absolutely no more doubt. This should not be surprising to us. I commend those women and many others. The Minister has put a great emphasis on this issue but we all need to accept that, as a society and a State, we are nowhere near to where we need to be, even if we are talking about women's refuges and the fact that nine counties do not have them. When issues come to me or my office in County Louth, there is a significant impact on the people in my office, councillors or me when we have to deal with the issues. We are dealing with women in particular who are in absolutely dreadful circumstances and have lost control. We do not necessarily always have the tools. Recently, one of our longest-serving councillors in Dundalk and I met a lady. All I can say is that it is lucky that she is still alive.

We are obviously dealing with domestic violence issues. We are dealing with the issues in society. We need to address where the heads of young men are. We need to call out the issues online. We know about brain plasticity and the fact that the brutal content can impact and change how people's minds work. None of this is good enough. There has to be a case where none of this is acceptable. We need to make sure that the rape crisis service in the north east, Women's Aid Dundalk, and whatever services the State provides are properly resourced.

The circumstances women find themselves in can be very different. They can involve people in private housing or rentals, including rentals from councils and approved housing bodies. The resources are not necessarily there. The housing crisis puts these women under more severe pressure regarding the choices they have. Many of these issues are exacerbated by drink and drug-taking, which can obviously lead to a greater element of danger. It really needs to be addressed.

Deputy Daly spoke about the lack of data. We need to make sure that we have the data and resources. We do not have the resources and we need to make sure we do right by Bláthnaid, Natasha and the many others.

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