Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is relevant to how we conduct our debate in the House. It is important that we conduct ourselves with decorum and be respectful of the House. This is all that needs to be said on the matter.

I call for a debate on the issue of domestic violence and violence against women and children in the home. The figures released by Women's Aid today show a very worrying rise in the abuse of children in family settings. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has promised comprehensive reform of the law on domestic violence. It has been reformed over the years and important reforms have been introduced by the Government, but we still lack overarching or codified legislation in the area. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to update us on the progress of his work on law reform in this area? We need to ensure our legislative responses are adequate. Legislation alone is not the answer to this and a good deal of other work must be done with regard to policing and education.

Yesterday, I asked the Leader for a debate on prison policy and sentencing. I support Senator Paul Coghlan who called for a debate on a related matter concerning the Law Reform Commission report on mandatory sentencing which was published yesterday. It recommends reversal of mandatory sentences for drugs offences, which it pointed out have only been applied to couriers rather than to those organising the trafficking. We could incorporate a debate on this into a general debate on prison and sentencing policy.

A survey conducted in The Irish Times on the lives of women working outside the home shows interesting results, which are published in today's paper, on the views of women towards paternity leave and seeking the introduction of a measure of paid paternity leave. I have called for a debate on this issue and to consider the introduction of paid paternity leave even for a short period of time. In Britain two weeks' paid paternity leave was introduced a number of years ago. I renew my call for a debate.