We will now take Leaders' Questions under Standing Order 36, but just before we came into the House we heard the sad news that the legendary, iconic figure Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh has died. Leaders will want to avail of an opportunity to pay tribute to him so we will add a minute to each leader's slot for that purpose.

I know everybody in the House wants to extend to his family our deepest sympathy. He is somebody who touched the lives of people the length and breadth of this country. He was not just the voice of the Gaelic Athletic Association; he epitomised the very spirit of that organisation. His love for the Irish language was unparalleled. In later life we all knew him to be a fantastic campaigner for active retired people and there is no doubt about it, he was active right up to the end.

As the Ceann Comhairle said, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and loved ones of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, a man who it is fair to say can only be described as a legend of Irish life. He was the voice of the GAA and what a tonal voice he had. His voice will forever be associated with long, hot summer afternoons and the hopes and expectations of so many. He was a very proud Kerryman, an ambassador of the kingdom but also of everything that is great about being Irish. We are so sorry to hear of his passing. He lived to a good age and certainly was the most active of the active retired. It is always the finality of a person's passing that stops us all in our tracks. I know people across Ireland and across the world will now lament the passing of a very great Irishman, but also record the great gift he was to all of us. We extend our sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

People across the country are reeling at the news of a vicious, brutal assault on a young woman on the streets of Limerick city. It was an attack committed by a member of the Defence Forces. It was filmed, posted on social media and bragged about. It was a harrowing assault that is the worst nightmare of every woman in this country. The victim of this assault, Natasha O'Brien, came forward and sought justice. In good faith, she put herself in the hands of the State. She relived the distress of her assault in statements to An Garda and in court. She believed in justice. She wanted to ensure that her assailant would not be free to walk the streets again and would not pose a danger to other women. Shockingly, the assailant was handed down a three-year suspended sentence. Shockingly, he is free to walk the streets again. Shockingly, the Defence Forces described him as exemplary, courteous, professional and disciplined as a soldier. Natasha asked the question as to what message this sends to perpetrators, because while Cathal Crotty is now free to go about his life, she feels trapped in the traumatic aftermath of what was an appalling crime. She now tries to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life. Natasha is here with us in the Public Gallery this afternoon, so the Taoiseach knows.

Women, girls and, indeed, everyone in our society are entitled to be safe and protected, whether walking the streets or in our own homes. This should go without saying in 2024. It should be a bare minimum. It is the most basic freedom that women and girls should be able to take for granted, but we cannot. As shocking as it is, women know that this case is not a stand-alone case. This is not an aberration or something that happened in splendid isolation. This is a symptom of an epidemic in our society. It is a case which sadly has parallels and echoes throughout the courtrooms and the experiences and stories that women and girls carry with us throughout our lives. They are experiences of not feeling safe, not being safe, and not being able to have confidence that the system will keep you safe.

Women are now again making our message heard loud and clear that enough is enough. Women have now had enough. The reality is that, in modern Ireland, violence against women and girls remains far too common. Just last week, the Women's Aid report recorded a record number of reports of gender-based violence, with more than 40,000 disclosures of abuse in 2023. That is the highest in its 50-year history. As a society, we cannot accept anything other than zero tolerance for this appalling violence, whether on the street, in relationships or in families. There has to be zero tolerance for the culture that facilitates this violence. There is an epidemic of violence against women and a culture that facilitates it. Cathal Crotty was not on his own when he attacked Natasha. He had male friends with him at the time. They failed to intervene. Thankfully, another man did. Let me say that. Thanks to him.

There has to be zero tolerance for violence against women in our Defence Forces. Yesterday, the tribunal of inquiry into abuse, violence and harassment of the Women of Honour opened. That tribunal came about because the women affected took a stand against the Defence Forces, yet it seems this culture continues. We have a judicial system, Defence Forces, a political system and a society that is failing to confront violence against women and that fails us all. We need urgent action to address this epidemic of violence against women across society so that there is truly zero tolerance for such crimes.

As I told the Taoiseach, I met Natasha earlier. She feels so betrayed and let down. In her own words, everything about this needs to change. I ask Deputy Harris, as Taoiseach and leader of Government, what is going to change and when.

Hear, hear.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. At his invitation, I want to begin by acknowledging the passing of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I, like people across this country, today learned of his death. The word "legend" gets used too often in Ireland but, for Mícheál, it is a word that is almost not good enough. His voice, his colour, his excitement, his love of sport and his turn of phrase were often as exhilarating as the action he was describing on the pitch as the audience held its breath for what Mícheál would say next. He also had a humour you simply could not learn: “Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation, Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation.” For a generation of the Irish diaspora, Mícheál was also a treasured link. He was a voice of home as they listened to GAA across the world. In person, he was always a gentleman to his fingertips and he filled a room with a quiet and dignified aura. I join with Members across this House and people across this country in saying may he rest in peace.

There are often moments in this House when Deputy McDonald and I do not agree. On this, I agree with her 100%. This is an issue on which I will work with her, with everyone across this House and across Irish society and with the Minister for Justice to get to where we need to get - we clearly are not there in Ireland - in terms of a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Deputy McDonald is right, and I have called this out before. There is an epidemic in this country when it comes to gender-based violence. Our programme for Government calls that out too. I want the Deputy and, more importantly, women across this country to know that I am no less disgusted than anyone else in Ireland in relation to this situation. There is a lot that I would like to say about court cases. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, based on the rules of this House and the separation of powers, I am constrained in what I can say, but I will say this. It is possible that the legal process may not be finished in this individual case. It is a statement of fact in a broad sense that it is open to the DPP to appeal any sentence. I believe there is a time period in which that can happen.

I thank Natasha O'Brien for joining us in the Gallery today. I do want to meet with you. I do need to wait for the window of legal proceedings to close, but I will meet you, as will the Minister for Justice, because we want to hear from you and we want to work with you. You have shown incredible bravery in speaking up and speaking out. The fact that you were horrifically attacked at a time when you yourself were standing up against homophobia is really a testament to your character and adds to the sense of brutality you encountered.

I also say this. When it comes to our Defence Forces, I am very proud of many of the men and women who serve in our Defence Forces. We all are. They serve with distinction at home and abroad. We all agree with that across this House, but we are all aware that the Defence Forces can be brought into disrepute by the actions of a small number. It also runs the risk of being brought into disrepute by the inaction of others. There is a very simple question to which we must know the answer: how many other people are in the Defence Forces today who have a criminal conviction? I want to know that answer, as does the Tánaiste. The Tánaiste has asked for a report on the matter. I believe the report is being compiled by the Chief of Staff and will be provided today. The regulations are very clear about what should happen in relation to the Defence Forces. Every single person in this country needs to know that those regulations are followed and that they are applied. I also think there are very serious issues relating to the regulation about a liaison officer attending the court. The Deputy asked me what needs to change, and I think that needs to be seriously reviewed.

I sincerely think the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has placed a major focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. She has worked with many of the organisations, including Women’s Aid and others, which the Deputy referenced. They, too, acknowledge the level of work. I can list a number of the positive things that have happened, such as the establishment of Cuan, the first ever statutory agency with statutory responsibility for co-ordinating and implementing our zero-tolerance plan. I also refer to the legislation we have passed together here in this House, including the maximum sentence for assault causing harm being increased from five years to ten years. There was the publication of the Family Courts Bill, the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023, and stand-alone offences for stalking and non-fatal strangulation. There was the sexual violence survey published by the CSO. There has been a range of very high-impact campaigns to try to bring about that cultural change, to which the Deputy quite rightly referred, in terms of the actions and inactions of men when they witness this sort of behaviour.

All of that is true. All of that is work that I am pleased has taken place. As an Oireachtas and as a people we should be pleased it has taken place, but none of that takes away from what happened to Natasha O'Brien. None of that takes away from what we have witnessed in our country in recent days. I want to assure the Deputy and, more importantly, I want to respectfully assure the women of Ireland that zero tolerance is exactly where we need to get to and exactly where we will work with you and others to make sure we arrive at that destination.