Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise awareness about a partnership between Women’s Aid and the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation Ireland, HABIC. The two organisations have come together to bring about an awareness campaign on domestic violence. The campaign will assist hair salons in being able to identify the ten common signs of abuse. The salons are being supplied with resource packs. It may well be that the only time a woman is out of the home and away domestic abuse is when she is getting her hair done. This is an opportunity to receive or share information. We have probably all at some point in our lives confided in our hairdressers. I have on occasion sat in the hairdresser's and cried. We share good news and the difficult days with a hairdresser. There is something in this fantastic initiative by Women's Aid.

Earlier, I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which heard from the Amal Women's Organisation, which supports Muslim women by, for instance, accompanying them to court or through maternity or other services where there may be a lack of cultural and religious awareness of their particular needs and sensitivities arising out of their faith. Having accompaniment in the way this organisation provides is important. It also goes into court with women.

Amal is starting what is called the yellow sticker initiative to get retailers on high streets to place a yellow sticker in their window. The yellow sticker is a signal to a person who is experiencing hate crime or racist or religious abuse on the street, as all too often happens, that the shop is a place of refuge. The person will be given a chair and a drink of water and staff will call the Garda and the person’s family. One of the women shared her experiences of this at today's meeting. The Amal Women's Organisation is beginning to roll out this initiative, which it had started with the Garda prior to Covid-19. This is a partnership of retailers who are assisting people in a moment of vulnerability. We give out much of the time but this is good news and a supportive initiative in the community.