Michael McCarthy (Labour)

The authority claims that it cannot help the woman in question because she is a joint tenant of a local authority house, along with a thug who has perpetrated evil acts against her. I have tried to convince the local authority to examine the case with the humanity it demands and to give the woman a house on the basis of her needs. She is currently in rented accommodation, which offers her a safe haven from the abuse she has endured, but she has a long-term housing need. Issues of child custody also need to be considered in this instance. There is a persistent threat of violence when her husband calls to her house to collect their children. The man in question is liable to do anything when he leaves the pub at the weekends. Local authority tenancy agreements are clear on the steps which will be taken in cases of anti-social behaviour, but I suggest that similar provisions be put in place in instances of domestic violence. People who perpetrate such violence should be evicted from local authority housing as a matter of course. Not only would such measures ensure that difficulties such as those I have mentioned do not arise in cases of joint tenancies, but they would also help to resolve some domestic problems by removing abusive thugs from family homes. We need to end the bureaucratic nonsense that means that local authorities cannot look after the housing needs of women who take the brave decision to leave their homes, having acquired the means to do so.

It is important that we attempt to increase awareness of domestic violence and modify society's attitude to violence in general. If one watched the "Prime Time" programme that showed two drunk people holding each other up and another person getting stuck into them, one will not doubt that society is accustomed to a certain level of violence on television screens. Incidents on football pitches and outside nightclubs feed into the psyche to which I refer. There is a need for a dramatic change in society's attitude to violence. For example, we need a "get tough" policy in respect of those who perpetrate horrific acts against other human beings. I appreciate that a broad range of measures is required, but we could start by putting in place educational programmes, for example at national school level, to increase awareness of the problem of violence. We need to ensure that everything that can be done to change attitudes is done. We should not underestimate the role of alcohol abuse in cases of domestic violence. The Leader has allowed Senators to debate the issue of under age drinking and the broader issue of alcohol abuse on many occasions. It is obvious that there is a inextricable link between alcohol abuse and domestic violence. I assume that most cases of domestic violence involve alcohol abuse.

I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, is in possession of a copy of the well researched and thorough Women's Aid briefing document, which contains summaries of its extremely well thought out recommendations. We should not consider the issue of domestic violence in financial terms, but in terms of its urgency. Acts of domestic violence will be perpetrated tonight and tomorrow. While I appreciate that there are funding constraints, I appeal to the Minister of State to deal with the issue of domestic violence as a matter of urgency. He should examine the salient and fine points made in the Women's Aid document. I wish the Minister of State well in that regard. While it may not be appropriate to wish Women's Aid success, I wish it well in the future. It provides a marvellous service to frightened people who have been bullied, harassed and assaulted. Any organisation that offers support services to such people deserves the good wishes of the House.