Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)

Before I begin, I express my deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of the two men who lost their lives in yet another day of tragedy, this time on my local roads at Gormanston, County Meath. I am also thinking of the two women who were very seriously injured, both valued members of our local Indian community, and of the emergency services who responded. It is again a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life can be.

As mentioned by many of my colleagues, today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This morning, I was honoured to attend the launch by Drogheda Soroptimists of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Drogheda and to proudly wear orange for awareness. This year's UN theme, UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All, reminds us that abuse does not end at the doorstep. It follows victims into their digital lives. Online harassment, stalking and sexualised threats are a new form of control and must be treated as seriously as physical violence. Like many women in public life, I have experienced such threats myself, as has every other woman in this Chamber. They are not just words online, they are intended to silence and exclude women from public life. I am here to say we will not be silenced. Earlier today, I also hosted a presentation for Men's Aid here in Leinster House, because no violence is acceptable, whether against women or men. As these 16 days begin, we all have to match awareness with action to strengthen supports, fund front-line services and ensure that every person in Ireland can live free from fear, be it offline or online.