Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister’s appearance before the House. We are speaking on such a difficult topic. She is here to say what the Government is going to do to combat domestic and gender-based violence against both women and men. She is getting to hear the voices of both men and women in the Seanad as we express our feelings on the subject. We know about the shocking loss of Ashling Murphy's life and, of course, our thoughts are with her family and friends and the people of Tullamore.

Womens Aid has spoken out about violence against women. More than 230 women have lost their lives in the past two decades. It is culture and behaviours that we have to challenge and stop, as has been mentioned on many occasions. We in the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have this year produced a report on bullying in schools. Even at school level, one in three pupils has experienced incidents of bullying or cyberbullying. It starts from a young age and we have to tackle that. Bullying cannot be acceptable. It can lead to other types of actual violence, as was seen in the case of Ashling Murphy.We have to call it out and tackle it. It is about the bystanders and upstanders, the people who notice that their friends have become more withdrawn, and whether they are asking questions. Nobody wants to get too involved, but has a friend or a family member become more withdrawn? Are we asking those questions and are we offering them the supports to feel that they can come forward and speak about this? The Minister spoke about upskilling and so forth within the Garda so every member of the Garda is able to be that person for the person who comes through the door.

On 25 November last, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Minister announced funding for 18 organisations across the country. She particularly focused on regional towns, where there can be very simple things such as increasing the number of hours that the telephone lines would be open so they are open late in the evening and at night when people need them, emotional support and more supports for people going to court so when they are taking a legal case they will have legal support. The Minister mentioned additional refuge places in the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. We have discussed this previously and the fact that there are so many counties that do not have these. However, it is not just counties, but towns. It should not be looked at on a county basis. I believe we should look at it on a town basis. What supports are there for urban towns of 5,000 up to 20,000 people? With regard to the refuge places that are available, obviously we are discussing violence against women here but I do not take away from the fact there is also domestic violence against men and a lot of that, like much domestic violence, is not reported. It is not reported when it happens to men and I am not sure if there are any refuge places available for men, as well as for women. It is a crisis in our society.

I thank the Minister for the work she is doing on the strategy she is bringing forward and for the way in which she has engaged with all communities, particularly in the last few weeks when it has been so difficult. We are aware that there are helplines, including the Women's Aid 24-7 helpline. For people listening to this debate, there is help available. They can talk in confidence. There are ways whereby the numbers cannot be traced or tracked. I encourage people to come forward where it is necessary. I again thank the Minister for her work on this.