Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a significant day in achieving our shared goal of zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I thank Senators and Deputies on all sides of the Houses for their suggestions, debate and support. I acknowledge the work of my officials in the Department and the unbelievable work done by all those in the sector. I particularly thank them for the way they have worked and assisted in getting to this point. We are now firmly on track to have this agency established by January. The competition for the board of the agency opened today and the process of choosing a CEO is at an advanced stage.

I am now pleased to announce that the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency will be called Cuan, which means harbour or haven. I have seen the shelter our refuges provide for women and children. These are women who have left their homes because they have been beaten and abused. I have seen the care these women are given in these safe harbours. We need more of them. We also need to capture the values they represent in a structure that will outlast my term as Minister and the careers of many of us, and which will protect victims and change attitudes. Cuan will be that permanent change and safe harbour to help us achieve zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.