Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women will present its report and recommendations; if he is giving the work of the committee high priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3233/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I can inform the Deputy that the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women was established by Government in December 1997 as part of its response to the issue of violence against women. The establishment of the committee was a recommendation contained in the report of the task force on violence against women, which was published in April 1997. The national steering committee is chaired by Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, and its membership comprises representatives of the Departments with responsibility for this issue, the non-governmental organisations working in this area, representatives from the Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Probation and Welfare Service, the health boards and the medical and legal professions. The remit of the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women is to provide, inter alia, a multidisciplinary and cohesive response to this issue. The committee has a number of objectives which include ensuring that regional and local structures are established and maintained, promoting public awareness about the issues involved in violence against women, advising on the co-ordination and distribution of resources among the eight health board regions, advising on the ongoing development of policies including those concerning services and supports, criminal justice intervention and perpetrators.

As regards a report, I can inform the Deputy that the committee is not required to submit one to Government but is working towards implementing the ecommendations made by the task force on violence against women and that work is ongoing. I can further inform the Deputy that a number of initiatives have been undertaken by the committee since it was established in 1997 including a number of campaigns to raise public awareness of the various aspects of violence against women.

In addition, I can inform the Deputy that, on behalf of the national steering committee, my Department has recently commissioned the development of a strategic plan to further its work over the next five years.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government places a high priority on putting in place measures aimed at tackling crimes of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and other crimes of violence against women and that I and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, place a high priority on the work of the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women.