Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)

The Minister of State is very welcome and I thank him for coming in. I also welcome Sarah Benson. It is fantastic that she is here. I thank the original signatories of the Bill, Senator Clonan and the former Senator Martin, and Senator Noonan for introducing it again and allowing us to be part of it.

I have just come back from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions biannual conference. The general secretary and the president of the ICTU raised what has become an epidemic of violence against women and girls. It is becoming more prevalent in all of our lives. We have spoken today about the number of people and women who have been killed. The underlying theme from today and from the conference over the last two days is that collectively as a society we know about this, so it is our responsibility to address it, whether through the State and legislation or through our own actions, something that a lot of Senators have spoken about.

I am going to speak about the wider context. We have seen the increase in the reporting of domestic violence and abuse and gender-based violence. These reports sometimes come from women who have survived years and even decades of abuse and other people who are still enduring abuse. Over 32,000 contacts were made to Women's Aid during 2024. That is 32,000 instances of women looking for help. The purpose of the Bill is to give strength and teeth to the existing legislation but also to ensure we look at continuous help by making it part of the housing strategy and looking at women's refuges, supports for children and family supports. This is such a welcome Bill and I hope it is enacted and not delayed, but there needs to be is a wider conversation. The Bill is just one part of a response.

Thankfully, women and children are no longer expected to tolerate a life of violence or to live in an abusive relationship, but as legislators we need to enact this and as a State we need to respond accordingly. In January 2023, I publicly highlighted the concerns in my own area that nine counties, including Sligo and Leitrim, had no women's refuge. Refuge is the last resort. Senator Clonan spoke about this. The help needs to be given when people are initially looking for help. Senator Gallagher spoke about women having to leave the home.That needs to be looked at. When people are looking for refuge spaces, things have gone as far as they can possibly go. However, we need to still provide those spaces. I know nine counties still do not have a shelter in July 2025. Sligo and Leitrim do not. From speaking to organisations locally, I know there have been great strides in how the Government is approaching the planning of these services. I acknowledge this.

Cuan is working well to ensure that all partner services are involved in decision-making. The Department of housing, the domestic violence advocacy service, DVAS, and local authorities have been working hand in hand. In Sligo, the intention is that DVAS will be a lead partner in operating the facility designed to accommodate eight families. That is where the issue lies. We know a number of sites have been identified and some were agreed on would have provided suitable service and sites, but some of those sites did not become available. The question of a site for Sligo will be revisited again at the end of July. This is where I want to ensure local authorities are working in partnership with Departments to ensure this becomes a matter of urgency and a part of housing planning within the planning department and the Department of housing to ensure spaces are available for women and children when they need it.

I commend the women and children who have been forced to leave their homes. I also commend Senator Malcolm Noonan on bringing this Bill forward and Senator Ryan for including children in it because it is essential that we are acting responsibly and quickly to ensure this epidemic does not escalate further out of control.