Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

Today, I speak not only as a TD for Roscommon-Galway but as a GP with over three decades of experience. In that time, I have witnessed the hidden trauma of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I recognise what Deputy Connolly has said that in some way, the term domestic has minimised what in fact is assault within the home. "Domestics" were sometimes minimised because it was simply "a domestic" and it was treated in a different way than if it was a common assault out on the street. I recognise what the Deputy said in this regard.

I have seen the fear in people's eyes, the silent suffering, the intimidated, the coerced and the emotional and psychological scars that last long after physical injuries have healed. I have done that house call on Christmas Day with alcohol-fuelled violence, an injured wife and terrified children. These figures are deeply troubling. In Ireland, one in three women - 35% - have experienced abuse by an intimate partner. Since 1996, 275 women have lost their lives to violence, mostly in their own homes. These are not just statistics; they represent lives stolen, families devastated and communities left heartbroken. The violence is not confined to others in the headlines. It is happening in our communities. I received figures from Roscommon Safe Link, our local support service, showing a 13% rise in new clients and a 5% rise in existing clients over the last year. This increase reflects both the scale of the problem but also a growing trust in these services. People have reached out because they believe they will be met with compassion and support and I suppose that is the culture we are trying to foster here. In 2024, Roscommon Safe Link delivered 146 outreach clinics across Boyle, Castlerea and Ballaghaderreen. In rural counties, these clinics can mean the difference between someone seeking help or remaining trapped in silent terror. The service also supported 37 new children and responded to over 9,300 contacts, including more than 800 crisis calls. Behind every one of those numbers is a person in need.

Abuse affects people of all genders. There has been a rise in male clients attending as well. While these are a minority, our response must reflect that reality also. Yet, despite this vital work, County Roscommon still has no dedicated refuge. Survivors fleeing abuse are forced to leave their home county to find safety. This is unacceptable. The groundwork for a safe house and refuge has been laid with Cuan and it is essential this project moves forward without delay. I will advocate for its delivery.

However, beyond the statistics and services, we must ask the deeper question. Why does this violence persist? It continues because of the attitudes we tolerate, the behaviours we excuse and the silence we allow. If we are serious about ending domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, we must start earlier, by educating young people about respect, consent and healthy relationships. Culture must change and men must be at the heart of it. We must also recognise that abuse is changing. Digital abuse, coercive control and online harassment are growing threats. Our laws, our support services and our education system must keep pace. As a GP, I have seen how abuse often escalates during pregnancy. The Women's Aid maternity project in Dublin shows the difference early intervention can make. These supports must be made available not just in urban centres but also in rural communities like mine. That is why I welcome the Government's zero-tolerance strategy that calls for a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach to end domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is built on the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention, which are prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination. I welcome the Minister's commitment to expanding the funding for Cuan beyond the €67 million committed this year. The Government zero-tolerance strategy sets direction. We must now ensure it delivers meaningful change in every community, including my own in Roscommon-Galway.

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