Last night we saw on RTÉ women who are victims of violence and have had to flee their homes. We need urgent action across all Departments on this. I know the Minister will open consultation on our strategy to combat gender violence next week. I really welcome her commitment to bring a refuge to all counties without a refuge, including Carlow, which I have raised here with the Taoiseach. Every town needs a refuge. As we saw last night, the women were so brave on the programme but there needs to be more places for women and men because they are being turned away. I ask that this public consultation be done as soon as possible.

The public consultation is obviously on the strategy and that will impact on the refuges and places. In those counties that do not have any refuge centre or proper centre, work should proceed with the local authorities in those areas to see if we can do something in the interim.