Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also want to sympathise with the family of Big Tom.

There are days when we walk past many doors on our way to our own door but we do not know what nightmares could lurk behind them. Today, the 2017 Women's Aid impact report was released, revealing over 19,000 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and children were made to the organisation last year. These figures take into account emotional abuse, as well as actual violence. The report revealed 15,833 disclosures of domestic violence against women and 3,552 disclosures of child abuse in the context of domestic violence. In the report, the numbers tell a story. Up to 21,451 contacts were made to Women's Aid services in 2017, of which around 10,000 related to emotional abuse, such as verbal abuse, or violence. Around 1,500 reports were of a financial nature where free access to money was denied or controlled.

These numbers are about real women who have nowhere to turn. I meet many of these women in my clinics and I am sometimes shocked by how little I can do. I try my best to access some help for them because they need support. The report looks at these numbers and highlights how separation does not always mean safety. Up to 28% of women which the organisation worked with in 2017 were enduring abusive treatment from a former partner. There is currently no law against contacting a former partner, even if the partner does not want that contact. Leaving a bad relationship is often not the end of that relationship. If children are involved, it becomes even more complicated.

We fail to protect women in this country. That is a fact. We leave them alone with our fingers crossed that they may get in touch with a service which may help them. Often that service cannot give them what they need, namely, a safe harbour or a place to be free. We urgently need to look at how we can help women in bad situations to get out and to be free before it turns more sinister. I encourage the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to examine how we can serve Irish women better. I know the Leader will bring my concerns about this serious issue back to the Minister.