I call Deputy Bacik.

Today, I want to raise a single issue: the harrowing case of former Garda, Margaret Loftus. I commend her on her immense courage in coming forward to speak publicly about her experience. Speaking on RTÉ's "Prime Time" last night, she described years of torture at the hands of her ex-husband, Garda Trevor Bolger. Last week, his three-month sentence for assault was suspended following his guilty plea to a low-end charge. Margaret Loftus described compellingly how her ex-husband exerted control over her right up to sentencing, even censoring her victim impact statement. Her allegations that he had previously made threats to kill and that he exerted coercive control were never tested in court.

Over some years I was proud to work with other women Senators and TDs, with Women's Aid, Safe Ireland and others, to introduce the offence of coercive control into our law. Because violence in intimate settings is rarely one single blow, we know that it tends to constitute patterns of domination, fear and control. Margaret Loftus believes that An Garda Síochána closed ranks around her abuser for a long time. After she reported him, she was met initially with silence. He got a promotion. He was even issued a firearm. She has said her long pursuit of justice was as traumatising and damaging as the abuse itself. Sadly, that is the experience of many survivors.

Margaret Loftus now fears that he may not even lose his Garda uniform. That fear is reinforced by sources which report that other gardaí convicted of similar assaults remained in service - a horrendous precedent. What was the collective response of An Garda Síochána to these troubling revelations? It seems its first response was to launch an investigation into Conor Lally, the journalist who first exposed this story five years ago. That is shameful. Stories like this make it unsurprising that the Garda Inspectorate has found that half of domestic abuse victims were dissatisfied with their experience of making a report to the police. We know that incidents of gender-based violence and domestic violence are lived, endured and survived by women in this country every day. Tragically, sometimes women do not survive these incidents.

Violence against women is an epidemic of shocking proportions. The public body, the service that is primarily tasked with tackling it, in some cases, is quietly facilitating those who perpetrate it. Zero tolerance cannot be an effective slogan if violent men are tolerated within our policing system or within our security apparatus. It is a real concern too within the Defence Forces. We have seen that exposed by the Women of Honour and Natasha O'Brien. Margaret Loftus needs to be given reassurance. She has said she will handcuff herself to the gates of Leinster House if nothing is done to address a culture that may include cover-up. Will the Taoiseach confirm to her that neither the Garda nor the Defence Forces will tolerate the accommodation of abusers within their ranks?

First, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In the first instance, I pay tribute to the victim here - Margaret Loftus. I commend her bravery in speaking out. I did not get an opportunity to see "Prime Time" last evening. Her courage in reporting this matter has seen it come through the courts and a guilty verdict delivered. We applaud her strength and resilience, showing that no matter who the perpetrator is, those engaged in domestic violence will be investigated and will be prosecuted.

The Government will continue to reinforce a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence and gender-based violence. Such behaviour has no place in any part of modern society. As Deputy Bacik knows, in recent years we established Cuan, and we are pursuing a new strategy. Standards have to apply. I was involved in the matter in regard to the Defence Forces. It applies equally to An Garda Síochána. I have no doubt An Garda Síochána will reflect on these findings. I do not want to prejudice the outcome of any disciplinary situation. I say that with the best interests of the victim in mind here, in terms of an outcome that could materialise. All of the facts, as the Deputy and the court outlined, would have to be considered by An Garda Síochána. When I reflected on this case, given the Charleton inquiry and earlier inquiries, there is a lot of concern about how this case progressed in terms of the lesser charge and so on. I have real concerns about that because some of that emerged in earlier inquiries as well. I say that without prejudice to this case. How this progressed is a matter of significant concern. The length of time is extraordinary for the victim. This does need to be examined, and will be examined.

There has been a finding of guilt and a conviction. Internal Garda disciplinary processes will now have to be followed. That is where it is right now. Again, there is a broader issue in terms of standards and character that apply to membership of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

I thank the Taoiseach. I call on Deputy Bacik to respond.

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. There is one very practical measure that Women's Aid has recommended could and should be adopted by An Garda Síochána immediately following this very disturbing case. There needs to be clear guidelines on how the Garda addresses a situation where a report of violence is made against a serving garda. These guidelines need to be easily accessible to the public, so that victims or survivors can be reassured and are not deterred from coming forward. In particular, they must be reassured that complaints will be dealt with seriously and expeditiously because, as the Taoiseach rightly says, the length of time in this case is a matter of particular concern.

Speaking more generally, we do know that, as I said, this is one incident in what is an absolute scourge of violent incidents against women. Domestic violence kills. We have seen far too many women killed in the context of their homes and their intimate relationships, by abusive partners. Since 2021, more than half of all murders in Ireland have had a domestic violence motivation. This is chilling.

I call on the Taoiseach to respond.

We need to ensure as a society that we are taking this very seriously.

I thank Deputy Bacik. I call on the Taoiseach.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. It is chilling. It is quite shocking. Every effort will have to be made to deal with this on a societal basis through State agencies and State forces - in terms of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. There has to be a very clear zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence. As the Deputy says, increasingly such violence has led to fatalities and murder, as we see on an all-too-regular basis. We will work with the Deputy. To be frank, this transcends parties.

If any additional legislative measures are required, we will not be found wanting. The investigating gardaí deserve some credit for pursuing this.

Yes, absolutely.

That should also be acknowledged. There are regulations in place to deal with the aftermath of the court case. I do not want to prejudice the outcome of that case.