Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the recommendations of the National Crime Council's July 2005 report on domestic abuse will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33611/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Crime Council's report Domestic Abuse of Women and Men in Ireland was launched on 5 July 2005. The report contains recommendations relevant to a wide range of Departments and agencies including the Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Health Service Executive, the Departments Health and Children, Education and Science and Social and Family Affairs and the Employment Support Agency, as well as topics such as court procedures, awareness raising, service provision and research and data collection. I am currently considering the recommendations which fall within my areas of responsibility, including those relating to awareness raising.

The National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, NSC, was set up in 1997 to provide a co-ordinated response from the many statutory and voluntary bodies involved in responding to the problem of violence against women. My Department, in conjunction with the NSC, has conducted a series of successful awareness raising campaigns dealing with various aspects of this issue in recent years. The NSC is currently developing a strategic plan for its work over the next five to 10 years which will include the development of a long-term and wide-ranging strategy for raising public awareness of the issue of violence against women. The strategic plan should be completed early next year and will be widely circulated at that time. This strategy is expected, inter alia, to address the information and awareness needs of relevant public officials and health professionals in partnership with the training and education arrangements already in place for the groups in question.