Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh raised the issue of 16 days of action on domestic violence against women and commended Women's Aid on its campaign. We have had this on the Order of Business in recent weeks. Senator Ardagh made a very fine contribution on it. The Senator is right. It is important that we have the legislation. The domestic violence Bill, which the Minister is committed to publishing and enacting, will be critical and it will put women and families at the centre of the legislation. We need that enabling legislation. We also need resourcing. The Senator is correct. We must protect women and children and, in some cases, men who have been abused. The Government "What would you do?" campaign is one we should get behind. We should work together to eliminate the awfulness of what is happening. If one meets women and children and talks to them about their life stories and what has happened to them, it is devastating. We all have a duty to get behind the campaign.

Senator Gallagher raised the issue-----