I concur with the comments of previous speakers on the epidemic of suicide, but I would like to refer to another epidemic in our society, that of gender-based violence. This Friday women around the world are, for the first time, being asked to go on strike or wear black as part of an international day of action against violence perpetrated against women. One in three women in the world will in her lifetime have experienced being beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused. Safe Ireland estimates that one in four Irish women has experienced physical and sexual violence by a male partner or non-partner since the age of 15 years. One in three has experienced psychological violence, which can also be extremely difficult. At what is meant to be a special time in a woman's life, the Rotunda Hospital estimates that one in eight pregnant women experiences violence. If 25% of all violent crimes involved a man assaulting his wife or a partner or if this was gangland crime, it would be shouted from the rooftops and there would be screaming headlines, but this issue is barely spoken about in schools or workplaces. How much of a priority is it for the Government? How much does it care about the issue of domestic violence and violence against women? Based on the evidence, it does not rate very highly.

The question is often asked, "Why does she stay?" What can a woman expect if she tries to escape a violent relationship in Enda Kenny's Ireland? First, she may not be lucky enough to even get through on the telephone to one of the helplines because the Government has systematically cut funding for organisations such as Women's Aid. If she seeks refuge, she will probably become one of 6,000, the number of women who were turned away from refuges last year, amounting to 16 every day. Does the Taoiseach know what happens to them? That is a jump of 1,000 on the figure for the previous year, but the Minister responsible for housing is only promising to provide eight refuge spaces next year. If a woman needs to move on from a refuge, there is no housing available because of the housing crisis that has been allowed to fester. The domestic violence charity Sonas told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing and Homelessness that many women were staying in the home to be abused rather than risk homelessness. If a woman tries to obtain a safety order, she will hit a wall as the waiting time for a hearing at Dolphin House is 20 weeks and there are no emergency barring orders granted when a court is not in session. The Government has increased free legal aid fees from €50 to €130 since 2013 alone.

In a "Prime Time" special last night we saw the level of violence against women. Male violence is a product of centuries of patriarchal culture and I am not asking the Taoiseach to solve it in one day. Will he specifically agree to increase the number of refuge spaces to the European norm of one per 10,000 people? Will he agree to provide rent allowance for any woman fleeing domestic violence? Will he stop the cuts for the rape crisis centres, Women's Aid and other services and instead invest properly in them? Will he also agree to the legislative changes we need? Will he drop the fees for any woman who is seeking a protection order?

I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by the Deputy on the matter. Those who beat women shame manhood. It is a crime to beat a woman and those who profess, in their manhood and machismo, that they are doing good by beating women do down themselves, their families and the nation. I am appalled by it. The two words "domestic" and "violence" should never go together. Only last week the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality launched the "What Would You Do?" campaign on domestic violence, which is part of the second national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence campaign, 2016 to 2021. It is about prevention, empowerment and support. It offers hope and help to victims of violence and empowers us as witnesses of such violence to find out what we can do to help stop domestic violence and support those caught up in it.

I recently had the privilege to present certificate awards to members of the Traveller community and had a long conversation with some of the women present. They had never spoken about domestic violence, although many of them experienced it. We are now trying in that category to train a number of counsellors to draw out these women to speak about their experiences and do something about it. We signed the Istanbul Convention on 5 November 2015 and the Government is following a multi-annual action plan to deal with the remaining legislative and administrative issues raised by the Deputy. When implemented, the measures will allow us to ratify the convention. The domestic violence Bill will represent a major step forward on Ireland's path towards ratification. It is at an advanced stage of drafting. It is intended that it will be submitted for Government approval and publication before the end of the year.

Provisions on domestic violence will be brought together in one piece of legislation to make it easier to use. Other improvements made in the Bill include an extension of access to an interim barring order for eight working days in an emergency or crisis and a provision that a person will no longer have to have a greater or equal property interest in the property from which a perpetrator is barred. A victim will be able to bring a friend, family member or support worker into court during proceedings. Additionally, it will be possible for a victim to give evidence by video link to avoid the risk of intimidation or being beaten up by a perpetrator or an associate. The anonymity of a victim, dependants and the perpetrator will be protected in criminal proceedings for breaches of orders, other than where the victim chooses not to be anonymous. This is intended to protect the privacy of a victim. the media will be able to report on proceedings, provided they respect the obligations concerning anonymity. It will also be possible to bar a perpetrator from communicating electronically with a victim.

This is a priority matter for the Minister and the Government and we will follow through on these and other issues.

They were fine words, but at the same time the Taoiseach has cut funding for Women's Aid by 20%. Women are now in more danger since he came to power than they were before because of the housing crisis, in particular.

There are more women who cannot get into refuges and have nowhere to go. Following the recent horrific murder-suicide of an entire family, a woman's memory was completely obliterated by the media. That is the position on male violence against women. One of the features of the "Prime Time" programme was that young women were in severe danger in relationships also. Approximately 60% of abuse starts before the age of 25 years. We are in the ha'penny place when it comes to things like stalking legislation. New revenge porn weapons and tools are being used by men to control or abuse women. The macho culture that objectifies and abuses women is continuing unabated. This Friday women will gather on the Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin at 1 p.m. and St. Patrick's Bridge in Cork at 5 p.m. to protest against violence against women and the ongoing eighth amendment. Women in 30 countries will take part in similar protests. Women are becoming politicised and radicalised and will not put up with this like they might have had to do in the past.

I will support women very strongly on this issue and in their action on Saturday. Deputy Kate O'Connell has circulated the details to every Member of the House.

The action is against the Taoiseach.

In 2016 Tusla is providing €20.6 million to fund the provision of supports for those affected by domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Sixty services throughout the country are being supported from this fund. Some €12 million is being provided for emergency refuge and support services, almost €5 million is being provided for community-based domestic violence support services, while €4 million is being provided for rape crisis centres. Tusla is being granted an increase of €37 million in 2017. It will result in increased expenditure on the work it does in various areas throughout the country such as the provision of funding for 147 family units of emergency refuge space and eight family units of emergency non-refuge space. In the course of this year eight additional family units of accommodation, six additional units of emergency refuge accommodation in Dublin and Kildare and two emergency safe housing units in Sligo were funded by Tusla. As I mentioned, funding of €950,000 has been provided in 2016-17 for the "What Would You Do?" campaign, which was launched by the Tánaiste. I hope this will make a real impact on awareness of the shameful conduct of domestic violence.