The report of Women’s Aid, published today, highlights the fact that in 2015 the national domestic abuse service received 16,375 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and 5,966 disclosures of child abuse.

That is a total of 22,341 abuse disclosures. These figures will shock not only those of us in this Chamber but also everybody across the country. Across Ireland, women have been choked, scalded, strangled, punched, spat at, cut with knives and hit with golf clubs. These are acts of barbarism.

Over the past 20 years, 211 women have been murdered in Ireland, almost half at the hands of people using their bare hands. In 2015 in Ireland, far too many women lived in fear. That continues this year. The women live in fear of physical and psychological abuse and they fear for their children. As a House, we must put an end to that.

We clearly need to do more to protect women in the home and women in relationships. Will the Taoiseach give a clear timeline to the House for the enactment of the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill? Will he agree to amend that draft legislation to allow for young women in dating relationships who are not living with their partners to receive the same protection as envisaged for cohabiting couples under that draft legislation?

Given the small amount of additional money required, will the Taoiseach agree now to extend funding for the 24/7 national freephone helpline in recognition of the real issues that have been highlighted today in the Women’s Aid report?

What Deputy Brendan Howlin has raised here is a litany of shame and cowardice on the part of those who inflict violence on women. Those who do so are not macho and should be ashamed of themselves because they bring shame on our country.

We should have the opportunity to have the report debated here in the House. The Tánaiste was at the launch of the report this morning. I have every sympathy with Deputy Howlin's proposal for an amendment so protection may be given to victims of this kind of crime. We have set out a range of priorities for legislation. Some are quite immediate in terms of issues I have already addressed. I will advise Deputy Howlin on the programme for legislating in respect of the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill.

On the Deputy's request in respect of coverage for the 24/7 helpline, it seems that it should, of course, be available. I do not know the costs involved but I am sure a case could be made that would bring it about. If the making of a call would protect one person fearing for her life, the helpline will have to be considered.

The report reflects a hidden, dark Ireland that needs to be dealt with and exposed. Those who inflict the kind of brutality in question on womenfolk should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is important that this report be debated in the House. Perhaps the Whips will set time aside in the next week or two weeks for that to happen. However, we also need to follow through with practical proposals. I look forward to hearing the timeline for the enactment of the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill, the heads of which were approved last year. If we could reach a collective agreement to seek to make progress on it before the end of this session, the Taoiseach might indicate his willingness to agree to the proposal.

With regard to support for Women’s Aid, the very least this House can do is ensure women who are vulnerable have some mechanism to reach out on a 24-hour basis.

I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that whatever resources are required to make such a service available are provided without delay.

I will follow up on that issue immediately. In regard to the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill, the new arrangement that kicks in next week will allow Ministers to answer individually in respect of legislation that falls within their responsibility. In the meantime, I will advise the Deputy on the progress made on the Bill.

In regard to having a debate in the House, the Whip has responsibility for 60% of business and the business committee has responsibility for the remainder. However, I am sure we can find an opportunity to debate a report of such profound implications for women all over the country as it needs to be debated.