Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber. Domestic violence statistics in Ireland are shocking. Some 14% of women experience physical violence in the home and in relationships and 6% of women experience sexual violence in the home, including sexual assault and rape. Almost one in three or 31% experience psychological, coercive control in the home setting. I know more information is becoming available about domestic violence among the LGBTQI community, where there are aggravating and complicating factors. It is all part of a broader, toxic patriarchal power dynamic in Irish society. Women and children are being abused in the family home because the perpetrators are, for the most part, men. In the community and the home, for the most part, people cannot hear their distress. It is a silent but insidious and profound problem. Occasionally, we see that patriarchal power dynamic and toxicity go from behind closed doors to random attacks on the street, as highlighted by the recent case involving Natasha O'Brien. We have to do everything in our power to combat this dynamic. I commend the Bill.

To borrow from Senator Martin and if not to paraphrase JFK but bludgeon his words, some see a Senator and an eminent barrister introduce Bill after Bill to support victims of domestic violence and ask why. I recognise a good man. Not all men stand up or speak out for the rights of others and the rights of women but Senator Martin does as a good man, Senator, lawyer, citizen and partner. I commend him. I am proud to have signed this Bill and others put forward by him. I also commend the Minister, especially for all the work she has done in her time as Minister for Justice in trying to combat violence against women and gender-based violence, discrimination and sexual violence. It is an insidious and awful problem in society. It is experienced in all aspects of Irish society. I have stood up and called it out. I am the parent of a beautiful 20-year-old daughter with whom we have a conversation every time she goes out about how she will get to wherever she is going and how she will get home. I thank the Minister for everything she has done. I commend Senator Martin on his work in this area.