Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The Leader of the House will agree that for many years domestic violence and the appalling levels of violence inflicted on women in our society were taboo subjects constantly swept under the carpet. Last year out of 20,000 calls made to Women's Aid, a dedicated helpline women can ring to report incidences of abuse and receive counselling and advice, 7,000 were missed because of a shortfall in funding of €70,000. In this day and age it is a scandal that a dedicated helpline cannot do its important work because of the lack of such a paltry sum of money. When that is set against the €70 million the Government has given to consultants to roll out a botched payroll system in the Department of Health and Children we see how misplaced are our priorities. We need a debate on domestic violence as soon as possible to establish exactly what support the Government is prepared to give to such agencies to help them do their important work.

I ask the Leader if she will provide time in next week's Order of Business to debate No. 19, motion No. 21, in the name of my colleague Senator Coghlan, on the groceries order, given the heated and contentious debate that occurred last night in the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party?