Domestic violence response
Jen Cummins also highlighted the Women’s Aid report and called for cross-party work to strengthen supports and penalties for perpetrators. The Taoiseach agreed and pointed to current legislation, refuge expansion and the domestic and gender-based violence strategy.
I also want to raise the Women's Aid annual report for this year. It shows a 33% increase in domestic violence disclosures and a significant proportion of those - almost 5,000 - are children. A long time ago I worked in the UK with a domestic violence project. What I see is that it is just getting worse. I do not want to play politics with this.
Every single person in this House has a responsibility to work together to make sure we increase the supports to women and increase the punishment for the people who are perpetrating these crimes.
We were delighted, as Social Democrats, that Senator Patricia Stephenson's Bill went forward to support women and people who are escaping domestic violence. I refer to the free travel scheme. We were thankful to the Government for supporting that. We need to work together. This is an epidemic of massive proportions, not just in Ireland but throughout the world. However, we are responsible for here. I really want us to work together. Will the Taoiseach work with us?
Comment on this
Absolutely. I agree 100% with the Deputy. We do need to work together on this. There are many factors here that we have to address. The Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, has been very proactive in terms of quite a range of legislative measures that he has introduced. I referenced Jennie's law and Valerie's law. The fourth strategy on domestic and gender-based violence is perhaps one we can structure an all-party approach to and input into as well. My understanding is that by the end of the year, we should have about 94 safe homes and about 193 refuge units, with 50 also under construction. There is a multifaceted response required here. It is a very shocking situation. We have to stand back and see how we can input further on this.