Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. This is a very comprehensive Bill and I have no doubt that, when it passes, it will leave a great legacy. It is legislation that has long been called for and has been in the melting pot for some time. As the Minister knows, Fianna Fáil has quite a strong record in this area. It had the first national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence back in March 2010, and that had been progressed following the recommendations of a task force in 1997. We were certainly happy to bring that forward at the time and many bits and pieces have been added over the years. I believe it will be very comprehensive legislation, which I welcome.

My party and I support this Bill which seeks to address the appalling problem of domestic violence. Violence against women in all its manifestations, including domestic violence, is a deeply traumatising act that demands Government action. While the Minister said there will be amendments and changes to it, in principle, we are happy to support the legislation, which is very timely. As a society, we will have to look at the greater ills that are leading us to this position. From talking to gardaí, it is clear domestic violence is close to out of control and, not to put too fine a point on it, it has become unmanageable in recent years. Perhaps it could be argued that it had been hidden and unreported for a long time and it was not something people liked to discuss in the open. In ways, life has become cheaper due to social media and other factors, and people can be seen as objects at times, which does not help. The Bill is certainly a step forward but we may have to look at the greater ills that are leading us to this position. I thank the Minister.