Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I acknowledge the enormous effort and work she has put into this legislation. I am particularly delighted that she is here today to see this Stage of the Bill through the process. As stated by Senator Conway-Walsh, domestic violence is a crime against families and children and their right to innocence. It is a crime against women and, in some case, men. The reality is that there are men suffering domestic violence. I have many of them at my office where they came to share their grief, including that nobody believes them.

When people experiencing domestic violence seek help they do so as a last resort. There is a lack of training or understanding of these matters in the Garda Síochána, which is not altogether its fault. The same applies in respect of the courts. Two weeks ago, a woman and a child appeared before the District Court with no supports and a social worker saying they were telling lies. Why is it that much of the time people do not believe, particularly children? Why is it that 11, 12 and 13 year old boys and girls, who tell of their grief, concern and abuse, are not believed? We must allow children to talk and we must facilitate that engagement. We must listen but we also must believe. I would like to leave here today confident that we have addressed the issue of the need to believe children and people who make complaints. People do not make up stories of abuse. People do not want their relationships to fail: they want their relationships and their family units to succeed. Everyone wants that. That is the place we need to come from in terms of our understanding of this issue.

I acknowledge the Minister's work on the Bill, which consolidates the law on domestic violence into one piece of legislation. It will provide additional protections for victims of domestic violence and, importantly, it will, or should, meet the requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, more commonly known as the Istanbul convention, which is a really important convention. This is about creating safety for women, children and families. I acknowledge the briefing document provided to the Oireachtas by Safe Ireland. It is a very informative document. The agency has taken the time and the trouble to assist us in our legislative work. There is collaboration between the NGOs and other agencies on this issue. People are sharing their personal experiences. It is not easy to do that. It is not easy to share that one's family relationship has broken down. It is not easy for any man, woman or child to say, "I am a victim of crimes in my own home"; "I do not feel safe in my own bed" or " I fear my lover or what was once my lover and companion". That is not easy to do. We need to be there to support people. This Bill attempts to do that. I thank all of the people outside of this Chamber who have suffered and contributed to this Bill and have kept the pressure on over many years to see it enacted.

I support all of these amendments. I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for the work they have put into this Bill. I refer in this regard to the usual ten or 12 Members who-----