Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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40. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the Women's Aid impact report 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17129/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Last Wednesday I launched the Women’s Aid Impact Report 2015. The 16,000 disclosures reported to Women’s Aid of domestic violence in 2015 and almost 6000 disclosures of child abuse represent 9,300 individuals ringing the phoneline. This serves as a stark reminder that the menace that is domestic violence remains a major problem for this society and that we must do all we can to end it.

This Government, and I as Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, remain committed to tackling domestic violence. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to full implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

All the actions required for ratification of the Istanbul Convention are included in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021 which was launched in January. The bulk of the strategy’s actions focus on supporting victims and holding perpetrators to account. The Programme for Government also commits to the implementation of the strategy.

It is my intention to publish the Domestic Violence Bill this year. The Bill will improve access to barring orders and provide for greater supports for victims in the court process in areas such as court accompaniment.

Protecting and supporting victims is a key priority. The proposed legislation to support victims of domestic violence builds on the broader Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime Bill) Bill which is being drafted for publication as a priority.

I’m particularly pleased to have secured almost €1m for 2016 to undertake the development and implementation of a national awareness campaign, which will run for six years, in order to change behaviours and attitudes in relation to domestic and sexual violence, and to activate bystanders with the aim of preventing domestic violence. Much progress has been made in advancing this campaign.

It is my hope that actions being undertaken by my Department and others to tackle the scourge of domestic violence will improve the situation for women and children and remove any barriers to them seeking the support they need.