Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their contributions to this debate. Little has been said with which I would not agree and the eloquent arguments made by Members represent an important step forward.

Many of the difficulties surrounding domestic violence arise from the hidden nature of this heinous crime. Victims are often afraid to report the crimes committed against them, particularly when the violence takes place within the family. I have met women victims of violence throughout the country who have said their most significant step was building the courage to talk about the violence they suffered. By speaking out, the weight of their experience was lifted from their shoulders. Women who are subjected to violence should have the courage to talk to somebody or to make a report to the domestic violence services or the Garda.

The culture of male domination remains alive and well in Ireland and is often accepted or taken for granted. However, as Senators have noted, that culture can be the cause of physical, sexual and mental violence. Senator Terry referred to the worrying trend whereby 125 women have been murdered in the past ten years, 50% of whom were killed in their homes.

The issue raised by Senator Norris of violence against men was acknowledged in the report of the National Crime Council. Some 213,000 women and 88,000 men have been victims of violence, so we should not forget that men as well as women are affected by violence. I welcome that the terrible acts of violence to which Senator Norris referred are being highlighted in this debate because these heinous crimes cannot be tolerated. A research project in NUI Galway is investigating the length of time involved in bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice through the courts. This matter is a cause of concern to my Department, the Garda and the domestic violence services and we are co-operating with a view to ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice more quickly than heretofore.

Senator Norris also raised the issue of violence against Traveller women. I agree that the statistics on the number of Traveller women in women's refuges are frightening. We must tackle the culture of violence in the Traveller community because some of the stories from Traveller women about their treatment are unacceptable. I agree with Senator Norris in that respect and we are working on the issue on several levels.

Senator Kett noted that Women's Aid was only able to answer 60% of the calls made to its helpline. At the end of last year, I sought more money for the organisation so that it could improve its ability to answer calls. While I was unsuccessful at the time, the Minister was acutely aware of the need for additional resources and the issue has become a priority.

Legislation on these matters is kept under constant review. Several Senators referred to the court accompaniment scheme which is now being funded. We are anxious to ensure that a comprehensive service is provided to victims to give them support when they appear in court and I have made applications for extra resources in that regard. While the training of judges is a matter for the Judiciary, I am aware from the Courts Service that training is constantly being improved and that judges are anxious to be given the opportunity for ongoing training.

The issue of enforced prostitution and trafficking was raised by Senator O'Meara and others. Ruhama is doing commendable work in this respect. The issue has been raised in our committee and legislation is forthcoming to address the unacceptable increase in trafficking. In addition, the Garda is proactive in bringing the organisers of trafficking to justice.

As Senator Jim Walsh noted, difficulties arise in terms of behavioural disorders. I have been struck by the number of physical, psychological and sociological problems which arise as a result of domestic violence. Significant sums of money could be saved on the curative side by investments in prevention to support the ability of organisations to respond to complaints. Many of the mental illnesses suffered by women are the result of years of abuse. If we invest more in prevention, we will save a great deal on trying to cure the problems caused every day by mental, physical and sexual violence. Senator Ormonde mentioned people's need for an immediate response to get them out of the home and to provide them with a refuge. The women's refuges around the country do very good work. They are overcrowded and in severe difficulty, but it is also important to understand that a women's refuge should be a last resort and that every effort should be made to ensure the woman can continue to live in the home, with support services provided. I gave the relevant statistics. Where necessary, the perpetrator rather than the victim should be removed from the home. I am strongly of the view that we should ensure that people be allowed to continue to live in their own homes, with a refuge used only as a last resort. There are issues regarding Travellers in that respect.

I would also like to mention cultural issues, particularly the number of foreign nationals in the country and the growth in domestic violence among them. In some cultures, domestic violence is accepted. This year we are funding several studies and working with various organisations to deal more effectively with domestic violence in non-national communities. We are acutely aware of the levels of domestic violence in certain of them, and that is among the issues being addressed by the national committee. We intend investing more money in researching the issue further and tackling it more effectively. Of course, given the large increases of recent years in the number of non-national residents, it is a fairly new problem for us.

I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate and members of organisations working on the ground for attending. I acknowledge the wonderful work done by many dedicated people who give of their time and energy in a voluntary capacity. Were it not for all the dedicated individuals across the country who put in so much effort, the problem would be much more serious. I acknowledge that it is time for the Government to respond much more generously to those organisations and am hopeful it will happen in this year's budget and Estimates.