Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. This is a difficult topic. I heard the Minister speaking on this issue and its impact on women especially in Ireland in difficult and terrifying situations. The Minister stated public information campaigns make a difference. That is why we must talk about this issue, ensure it is not a hidden secret and bring it out into the open. I speak clearly about active bystanders as well. The statistics are shocking and the home is not a safe place. I pay tribute to the www.stillhere.ieand No Excuses campaigns from the Minister's Department, which make it clear that people in this situation can travel outside the 5 km limit. I also refer to the national roll-out of the Garda divisional protective services units. I also mention MOVE Ireland - Men Overcoming Violence, which is a fantastic initiative I heard of recently. We must support those counsellors who are working with men in group sessions to change behaviours and attitudes.

Which parts of the country are piloting live video links and remote hearings? I ask these questions in the context of huge backlogs in courts. I come from an area where there is a great deal of disadvantage. Many women are engaging with legal aid, but there are huge backlogs. There is a wait of two to three months to access legal aid in County Galway and there is no full-time Legal Aid Board in Roscommon. On that aspect, how do we encourage solicitors to take on more legal aid? They are turning away from it in droves. On front-line policing, when will all gardaí receive the specialist training, and will it also include details of and referral to groups such as MOVE Ireland?