Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank her for coming back to the House. I know this is an important issue to her. She is committed to it. She has indicated before that she is focused on domestic violence. I thank her for that and the time, focus and priority that she has given to it. I thank my colleague and friend, Senator Vincent P. Martin, for drafting this legislation. I acknowledge the co-signatories of this, Senators Garvey, Norris, Clonan, Boylan, Gavan, Warfield and McGreehan. It is welcome that we are having this focus and debate. We talked about domestic violence earlier and it is important that we use this opportunity. It is a simple enough Bill but it is profound and important. It will impact people and hopefully assist and protect people. There are only three sections to the Bill but, as I say, it is an important Bill and I thank the Minister for agreeing not to oppose it. There may be additions and a need to address other issues, but it is positive.

When we have this opportunity, we need to focus on domestic violence. It is too simplistic to say that it is adult versus child or vice versa. Domestic violence could be a woman versus another woman or a man versus another man. It is a very personal thing. Many people do not want to talk about it in an open way. They feel they cannot talk about it. In many cases, victims feel they have contributed to this issue. It is difficult and there are a number of complexities around domestic violence.

My experience with An Garda Síochána has been a good one when people have come to me or reported to the gardaí. They are under pressure and are down the resources. They sometimes find it difficult. To arrive at any Garda station in any part of the State is quite an intimidating thing for some people. The first thing they will be confronted with is plate glass. The next will be a bell. Next thing is that one will press the bell and wait a certain amount of time because of the pressures the gardaí are under. I know people who have run away from a Garda station. They do not see that privacy. One can explain to them that they can make an appointment by telephone. There are huge issues around it. We need to continue to support An Garda Síochána in how it addresses and deals with the issues. There may very well be a need for supplementary or additional staff who are not front-of-house gardaí but who assist in that. I may not be fully aware of all the issues around that. I ask the Minister to keep that in focus in her interaction with the Garda Commissioner when considering whether we are fully meeting the needs of people who ultimately have to report at some stage. My experience, and reports back from people who have engaged with gardaí about this, where they can get them and an appropriate time, is that the gardaí are sensitive and supportive, but there is an issue with resources.

The issue of women's refuges has been talked about. I have a somewhat different view. I do not want to see a building that says, "Women's refuge". I will not the mention the location of one but it is not too far from here. Many of the victims say they have to come out of there and sometimes confront their abuser or they meet their abuser at the national school of their child. People who have families in communities want to stay in the community. It is important to say that people who are victims of abuse want to stay in their community. They do not want to interrupt schooling, childcare supports and other supports they have. That is an issue we have to address. I like the idea of designated safe homes in our community for people rather than institutional buildings that are broad and deal with many complexities of other people. Family units, even if they are diminished or smaller because of this, have to be kept together, kept close, and supported through education and our school systems. I know the INTO in particular has done a lot of work and in-house training on this.

I acknowledge how Senator Vincent P. Martin engaged with external stakeholders. That was important. He did not just look within the bubble. He engaged widely with external stakeholders, which is to his credit. I was not able to go to his briefing but I heard many positive reports and thank him for the invitation to it in the audiovisual room today. I think he lined up very significant contributors to that. One can clearly see that most people have referred to the Senator's briefing today, so that was clearly an important aspect.

The Minister has a strong record in doing something about this. Let us move forward and be conscious that we have obligations and responsibilities. We have obligations under the Istanbul Convention, which the Minister is fully aware of. It is important that we move forward and that, at all times, we keep the focus on the victims of domestic violence, particularly children who are vulnerable. In many cases, their lives are shattered, as are the people who are subjected to domestic violence. It is a lonely, hard road when one has to go out and share one's grief, pain and fragmented family as a result of domestic violence. I congratulate Senator Vincent P. Martin on pushing this legislation. I thank the Minister for giving it such a good reception and a commitment to support it all the way.