Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is welcome back to the House. I, too, very much welcome the establishment of this new body, which, as the Minister said, will be referred to as Cuan, which means "harbour" as Béarla. It is very much welcomed. A number of counties, numbering seven to nine, currently have no refuge centre. In County Monaghan, and as my learned colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who is based in County Cavan, will know, we do not have a refuge centre that will accommodate people in both counties. Work is going on at local level between Cavan and Monaghan county councils with a view to locating this site, which is progressing. That is something we would like to see happen as a matter of urgency. I have no doubt that the Minister intends to be here when it comes to that. I would like to see that developed as soon as possible.

In many ways, while it is vitally important that we have refuges for poor, unfortunate women who find themselves in this position, it is shocking that we are still having this conversation on this issue. The refuge is treating the symptoms, however, not the problem. I would like to see more focus on why instances of domestic and gender-based violence are still with us and are continuing to increase, unfortunately. The reality is that we as men need to have a good hard look at ourselves in regard to how we treat women every day. Unfortunately, there is a journey to travel in that regard but it is a journey that needs to happen as a matter of urgency.

It is to be hoped that Cuan will be the first step along that road. I welcome the establishment of it. I commend the Minister on the work she has done on it. She has been very enthusiastic and eager to get this set up. Well done on getting it this far. I sincerely look forward, to be parochial in respect of our home counties of Monaghan and Cavan, to seeing a refuge centre there for women. Even more so, I look forward to the day when we do not need refuge centres. That is key. There is a lot of work to be done in that space between now and then. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire for her work on this.