Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Organisations such as Women's Aid, Advic and the Rape Crisis Centre are all engaged in providing assistance to individuals, many of whom are women, who are the victims of crime. Domestic violence does not only give someone an entitlement to seek a domestic protection order in the courts, be it a barring order or safety order, it is an assault. It is a criminal offence to physically assault a woman. Clearly if someone is the victim of rape it is a criminal offence.

These organisations provide very crucial services to victims and when it comes to the very difficult financial circumstances in which we find ourselves and having to make really difficult choices, the choice we have made is to give preferential treatment to organisations providing services as opposed to those who are primarily engaged in advocacy and research. Unfortunately that will remain the position for some time.

I want to conclude by again thanking Senators for their contribution to the debate. I hope those who have contributed will forgive me if I have omitted some issue they have raised with me or I have not made express reference to them. I very much welcome the substantial support for this measure. I welcome and thank Senators for their co-operation in making it possible for us not only to take Second Stage today but to take the Remaining Stages, I hope, of the Bill before the Christmas vacation. It is in the public interest that it becomes law as soon as possible. The Bill has been too long delayed in the gestation phase and I will conclude on that note.