Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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12. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the "What Would You Do?" awareness campaign relating to domestic violence and abuse. [40442/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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This question relates to the high-profile "What Would You Do?" domestic violence awareness campaign, which was launched recently and on which almost €1 million is being spent. While I welcome anything that raises awareness of domestic violence and violence against women, my issue with this campaign is that it puts the onus on intervention by other people and individuals and does not answer the question of what people should do.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of domestic violence. As she knows, I am absolutely committed to dealing with this issue by taking the actions that are necessary, ranging from stronger legislation and awareness campaigns - I will address this particular campaign in a moment - to supports for those who are working on the front line. Over the past two years, I have engaged in a great deal of consultation with the non-governmental organisations that are working in this area. The overall aims of the "What Would You Do?" campaign are to increase awareness of domestic and sexual violence, to bring about a change in long-established societal attitudes and behaviours and to activate bystanders with the aim of decreasing and preventing this violence. I believe these goals are achievable. We have looked at the international research in this regard. All evaluations of similar anti-domestic violence campaigns around the world have found that experience of domestic violence has declined and awareness of how common it is has increased. There has also been an increase in people's willingness to discuss the matter and to report domestic violence incidents to police. Obviously, we do not want people who witness domestic violence to put themselves at risk in any way.

I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that it is important to open the door much more on the sad reality of domestic violence in Irish society. We have had some feedback since the campaign began. There have been 88,000 visits to the website. It is interesting to note that the majority of the visitors to the website have been from the 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 age groups, which account for 50% of visitors to the website. A further 15% of visitors to the website are in the younger age bracket of 18 to 24. The YouTube channel has seen 85,000 views of these advertisements since 5 December. I believe this campaign has led to far more discussion of the issue of domestic violence in our national and local media. All of the organisations working in domestic violence have made themselves available to go out and give the proper information about what people should do. Obviously, they have been part and parcel of this campaign as it has proceeded. The campaign is based on research. It is just one part of the answer. It is important that this approach is being taken in Ireland.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I do not believe it is right that the advertising campaign is putting the emphasis on relatives and friends. There should be an emphasis on prevention. The campaign is not aimed, as it should be, at the men who commit most domestic violence. I do not normally listen to "Liveline", but when I did so recently I heard a woman making an excellent point about her continual efforts to intervene to help a women living next door to her. There were visible examples that violence had been committed against this woman. When the "Liveline" caller phoned gardaí, they said they could not do anything unless the victim made a complaint. This has been going on for decades. I refer to the attitude of the Garda. Not one visit was made to the House by gardaí. The woman who spoke on "Liveline" got no help when she tried to intervene on several occasions by ringing the Garda. The "What Would You Do?" campaign has to be backed up with extra resources for those who actually decide to do something.

We need extra staff in the Garda to deal with this and we need extra refuges. I have already highlighted the total inadequacy of the number of refuge places. No emergency barring orders exist in this country. There are no barring orders for non-co-habiting couples, which is a startling point. There are serious deficits in the structural treatment of violence against women and they need to be addressed. I believe the campaign should be re-examined.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is going to be evaluated and reviewed on a continual basis. There is an opportunity for all in this area to be involved, including NGOs. Presentations were made and discussions took place with them before this campaign began. That will happen again in future. We should not underestimate the importance of an awareness campaign. I am not suggesting we do not need to continually improve services.

I am disappointed at the particular story Deputy Coppinger told relating to An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner has prioritised this area. More training and more dedicated resources are in place. The Garda have been involved in this campaign. Some members of the force have been trained and all have been made aware that this campaign is going on and that more referrals are likely.

I agree with Deputy Coppinger that there is a bad history of response to domestic violence. However, I believe there have been major improvements. If we put the victim at the centre – something we must do under the victims directive and the new victims legislation – then we should see improvement in the services to victims and we should see domestic violence being taken seriously.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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An education campaign should be considered for schools. We know that 60% of abuse starts before the age of 25 years. We need proper sex education and education on healthy relationships. The religious teaching of some schools is a barrier in this regard. We need to challenge the macho culture and misogyny endemic throughout many of the parts of Irish society.

We need to discuss the balance of the campaign. I have in mind one of the advertisements I saw last night. Of course there are male victims of domestic violence - that is indisputable. However, the advertisement seems to give equal weight to the two. It could be read by people in that way. However, the figures show that what we are dealing with is a gender and power relationship. Once women do not have power equal to that of men, they will always be more likely to be victims of domestic violence. According to SAFE Ireland, one in four women are victims. Fully 25% of all violence crime involves a man assaulting his partner. We have to challenge the patriarchal culture that exists under capitalism everywhere. Sometimes it excuses and victim-blames rather than putting the emphasis on the perpetrator.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Patriarchal attitudes were rather prevalent in many countries under communism and socialism as well. It is a worldwide issue that needs to be addressed.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I do not know any socialist countries.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is certainly prevalent throughout the world. Let us be clear about that. I agree with Deputy Coppinger about the importance of education.

The campaign takes account of the gendered nature of domestic violence and the proportion of advertisements and the campaign has been informed in that regard. More advertisements in the course of the campaign show violence against women. Equally, there is some domestic violence against men. That is reflected in the campaign as well.

I wish to assure Deputy Coppinger that this money is being spent carefully. A Europe-wide tender process was undertaken. The campaign will be reviewed as it develops. Certainly, it is open to views from Deputy Coppinger, other Members and the NGOs working in this area.

We need to continue to give resources in this area. It is clear from the crime statistics at present that crime is down in many areas in this country. However, we have turned a blind eye to this for far too long. Sexual assault, sexual violence and domestic violence crimes have increased. Often, they are linked to our attitudes to alcohol and drug usage.