Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice of welcome to the Adare Women's 2020 Club. Councillor Bridie Collins sent a message first thing this morning to tell me to make sure to meet those very fine ladies. It is really lovely to be able to say hello to them. As soon as they started coming in, I said, "That is who they are." They are very welcome. I hope they have a lovely day in Leinster House. I hope to get to chat to some of them later.

I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for progressing this and being with us to discuss this hugely important Bill. As we gather here, it is only right that we remember Ashling Murphy and her family and friends and, of course, the family and friends of Claire Collins, who was tragically murdered in Corofin, County Clare, at the weekend.

As we know, violence against women is an epidemic and not just in Ireland but right around the world. We have seen some very high-profile murders over recent years that have really brought these issues to the front and centre of open debate. These brutal deaths have also enabled women to talk about their own fears. The death of women through acts of violence has forced society to listen to that reality and to demand action. We now need society and, of course, the political system to address that fear urgently and comprehensively and take an honest look at how the system responds and meets the needs of women and those who are suffering from domestic abuse. As legislators, we have a duty to act and do everything we can to ensure that we have the strongest legislative response possible. There is no doubt that action such as this is required.

According to Women's Aid, there have been 256 incidences where women have died violently between 1996 and today. Twenty children have died in incidences where women have died violently, 163 women have died in their own homes and 87% of women were killed by a man known to them. Women of any age can be victims of femicide. However, women under the age of 35 make up 50% of the cases in Ireland. The numbers do not lie. Sadly and unfortunately, the numbers are not surprising.

I welcome and support this very important Bill and the work the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has put into it since she made the commitment that this commission would be put in place. This will establish, as was committed in the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, an agency under the Minister's purpose with responsibility for planning, co-ordinating and monitoring the development of refuge accommodation. It will provide assistance, including financial assistance, for the provision of services, including services within refuges, for victims and persons at risk of domestic violence. It will set standards for funded services and will monitor adherence to same, as well as co-ordinating and overseeing the delivery of Government strategies and plans.

In addition, it will be responsible for delivering public campaigns for the purposes of raising awareness of domestic violence and reducing its occurrence in society. It will compile and distribute information on the services and supports available to victims and persons at risk of domestic and gender-based violence and will conduct and commission research to inform the evaluation of policies, strategies and services in place. We obviously cannot forget the men. We need men and boys to be part of the conversation and to understand what all this means in their terms.

This will be a substantial agency tasked with really important work. The new strategy will build on the previous two strategies. While the third strategy recognises that while men and women can be victims and survivors, women and girls, of course, are disproportionately affected. As a result, there is and needs to be a particular emphasis in the strategy on meeting the needs of women and girls and creating a society in which there is zero tolerance for the culture of domestic and gender-based violence.

There are ambitious goals. I really wish the Minister well in terms of where the plan will be going until the end of this year. I wish to mention Teach Tearmainn in County Kildare, which offers great support and shelter and, in particular, outreach with children. It has its own helpline and a court accompaniment service with advice on legal orders and court processes. It delivers an Own Your Life programme, which I know from talking to survivors of domestic abuse has really helped them with their lives afterwards. It has a really excellent children's support and outreach service. I really see how an excellent service can work. As many Members may be aware, I also drafted a Private Members' Bill, the Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023, which would establish a domestic violence register and go some way to try to prevent repeat offences in terms of violence against women. I hope the Minister will support that. This would be an important step in protecting women in the country. There is very good work ongoing at the direction of the Government and within the Minister's Department, but we have much to do. This is really another good step in the right direction.