Violence against women strategy
Thomas Gould raised recent attacks on women and pressed for a dedicated government unit and stronger action on violence against women. The Taoiseach said the Minister for Justice would lead policy, a new strategy was expected in March, and a coordinating unit would be established in his Department.
The Taoiseach will have heard of the brutal attack on a young woman in Cork at the weekend. It comes three weeks after the awful murder of Ashling Murphy. There was another attack last week on a woman in Kilkenny. Our thoughts are with these women and their families. Violence against women is an epidemic. We are all agreed that consistent action is needed to eliminate it. The women of Cork and Ireland need to know that they are safe on the streets, in their homes and everywhere.
Two weeks ago, this House passed a Sinn Féin motion which proposed the establishment of a dedicated unit in the Department of An Taoiseach to co-ordinate a gender-based violence strategy and delivery of actions. What is the timeline for the delivery of this unit? It would be a big step forward.
Comment on this
The Deputy may be aware that the party leaders met during the week. Approximately a fortnight ago, it was announced in the House that the Minister for Justice would lead on policy and services in respect of violence against women and that a new strategy will be published, hopefully, in March. There will then be accountability to the Department of An Taoiseach and the Cabinet sub-committee and there will be a unit in my Department to co-ordinate the work of all Departments. It has to be a whole-of-government response to this issue to make sure that the targets within the strategy that will be published by the Minister for Justice will be fulfilled and followed through.