Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I wish to reassure victims of domestic abuse and other callers who have experienced concerns about their personal safety or the safety of others in their care that this issue is being taken extremely seriously, and that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will maintain regular communications with the Garda Commissioner and the Policing Authority chairman on the matter.

In acknowledging and welcoming the Garda Commissioner's apology, it is important also to acknowledge the effectiveness of Operation Faoiseamh which the Garda established in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic to proactively support and protect victims of domestic abuse and to ensure that domestic abuse incidents received the highest priority response. Operation Faoiseamh has resulted in a 24% increase in criminal charges brought against perpetrators of domestic violence in 2020 versus 2019. This is an ongoing Garda operation and, despite the concerns which victims will understandably have following the revelations, I urge any member of the public who is experiencing domestic abuse and who has yet to contact the Garda for support to do so. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that when the person does, he or she will be provided with the utmost support.