Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I find the debate very moving and upsetting. It was very powerful listening to Senators Boylan and Hoey. I do not think there is a woman that has not been impacted, including myself. It is amazing how from a very young age we learn as young female children to protect ourselves. We have to. There is no other way about it. We have to learn to protect ourselves from when we are very young female children. I know today that even when I walk from my house to the shop I am scanning. We have to. Even during the daytime when I see somebody walking towards me I wonder whether it is a dangerous person, whether there will be a comment or whether I will be grabbed. It has happened to me, a good few times I might add, just because I am a woman. It is quite shocking to think that in this day and age we still have to have this conversation.

I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ashling Murphy. I mentioned this on the Order of Business. I cannot imagine it, and nobody can. The whole country seems to be in mourning for that young woman. I also express my condolences to the family and friends of all the women who have died needlessly and violently at the hands of men in Ireland. The murder of Ashling was heartbreaking but as we all know it is not an isolated incident. It is a watershed moment in Irish history when at last we will collectively say enough is enough. It is very sad to say it takes the death of a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her to bring about societal change but it is better that a tragedy brings about a positive change for the greater good and there is no doubt about that.

I want to mention a few figures released this week by An Garda Síochána. I am sure the Minister is aware of them but I want them on the record. The Garda responded to 48,400 incidents of domestic abuse in the past year alone. This is unbelievable. There was a 10% increase in the number of instances in 2020. This week, RTÉ reported that a women's refuge in Waterford city has seen a 134% increase in calls to its 24-hour helpline since the onset of the pandemic. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre believes 90% of victims do not report. Despite the increased levels of awareness about domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in recent years, the incidence rate continues to increase. It is time to take a look at the efforts we have made as a society to address the issue of gender-based violence. Our strategies continually fail the women of this country.

I could go on as I have a big speech to make but I am very conscious that today we are looking for answers. We are looking for answers as to how we can change this societal pandemic upon us with regard to sexual violence against women. What can we do? I have a few suggestions. I am not even sure they will help. Providing funding for services that work with women experiencing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is vital. We have to do this. We must ensure the criminal justice system works fairly and equitably for women. Some of our colleagues have mentioned simple measures such as putting a "do not disturb" sign on the door. For God's sake is this not just respect and dignity? It is bad enough having been assaulted but then to have to go in and speak to the Garda with people coming in and out of the room is like being abused again. It is vital that progressive public education campaigns are devised to ensure women are treated with the respect and dignity that we deserve.

I know this will all be little consolation to Ashling Murphy's family and friends. We have to ensure her death did not occur in vain. Let their loss be the wake-up call our country so desperately needs so that no other family is forced to contend with the grief of losing their daughter in such a violent and senseless way. All I can say to the family is ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam. Please let us start today. Hopefully this is the beginning of something whereby we can make a change in the country to deal with violence.There is not a woman in the country who has not been impacted in some way. I am telling the Minister that. All my women friends have been impacted in some way. I thank the Minister today for calling for this debate. I thank her for her work. I know she is very passionate about this issue.