Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of Cumann na mBan but due to commitments in the Seanad we could not get to it. The Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an acknowledgement of all the work that women have done in the past and will continue to do in future. This Istanbul convention was signed by the Council of Europe in 2011 but Ireland has not yet signed it. As a tribute to all women and men working for equity and equality, we should recognise this as a very important convention. It is on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence committed against women because they are women. It is the obligation of the State to fully address this in all its forms and take measures to prevent such action, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. Failure to do so will make the issue a further responsibility of the State down the road.

In years gone by we have seen how the State had to take responsibility for past actions. I ask that the Council of Europe convention be signed by Ireland. If we fail to do that we will have to consider the issue in another light. It is not only women who suffer domestic violence so everybody is asked to apply this convention. I am asking that the terms be applied to men as well as women, as some men are subject to violence. There is also abuse of children and the elderly. The convention deals with such matters.

This is a serious issue and it can pertain within families. I ask for a full debate on the matter and that we approve a motion to have the convention signed. I wanted to raise this on the 100th anniversary of Cumann na mBan but to do so now would have the Seanad doing a great service not alone to women but to men who suffer violence, particularly gender-based violence.