Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tomorrow the global 16 days of action campaign against domestic abuse and violence against women will start. The theme of this year's campaign is to change the conversation around the issue of domestic violence. In the recently launched Women's Aid annual report, some of the headline statistics underlined the need for action from us in the Oireachtas. Up to 42% of reported abuse occurs within marriage, 55% of women murdered in the State since 1996 were killed by their partners or ex-partners and 81% of abuse disclosed in 2015 happened in an intimate relationship.

Too often excuses are found for instances of domestic violence after the event. Often, part of the blame is placed on the victim. We see this time and again. I appeal to the media when reporting cases of domestic violence or where women have lost their lives through violence to report responsibly on it.

Domestic violence needs to be seen as the heinous crime that it is, perpetrated by offenders. We need robust legislation to punish these offenders and protect potential victims, as happens in other cases of crime. Why do perpetrators of domestic violence continue to do it? They do so because they know they will get away with it and will not be punished. They also know women are often confined to their homes because they cannot leave as there is no housing or rooms in refuges for them due to the severe cuts that have happened. The perpetrators know they will get away with it. It must be stopped.

Without the consolidated domestic violence Bill and the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill coming into effect, the Istanbul Convention will not be implemented. The protections victims of domestic violence require will not be available. The Taoiseach has said he will bring in this legislation. Promises are not enough. We need this legislation to be brought in immediately. We need to protect women and children, and sometimes men, in their own homes. That is the unfortunate state in which this country is in 2016.