Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-06 ============================================================ Joe O'Reilly (FG), Labour Panel At the outset, I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter. I welcome the Minister. His presence here, as the senior Minister, to deal with this issue is an indication of his commitment to the whole area of dealing with domestic violence. I am very heartened by that, irrespective of how we get on debating the matter. I want to highlight an urgent gap in essential services for women and children in County Cavan. Despite national commitments to expand refuge capacity and strengthen support for those fleeing domestic violence, Cavan remains without a purpose-built refuge facility. Across the country, we have made significant progress in improving responses to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, yet the absence of a dedicated refuge in Cavan stands in stark contrast to the local community's need. Women in crisis should not have to travel long distances across county boundaries or face uncertainty at the very moment they are seeking safe shelter. At present, a woman in Cavan who needs emergency protection has to leave the county to find it. That is the simple truth. For many women, that journey is not easy. It means leaving behind their community and whatever support network they have. It adds pressure at a time when they already face enormous fear and uncertainty. We must also recognise that providing this refuge is not just about responding to emergencies; it is also about sending a clear message about the kind of country we want to be. Cavan is a place that values community, fairness and looking out for one another. A refuge reflects those values in a very real way. It shows that when someone is in danger, we do not turn away or expect them to manage on their own. We step up, we put the supports in place and we make sure help is available close to home where it is needed most. We are developing safe homes, which are welcome and will help, but this is not enough on its own. A county of Cavan’s size and with its strong communities should not be without a refuge. It is a basic service that people expect to be available locally, just as it is in other parts of the country. Local organisations are doing incredible work. They are supporting families, often in very difficult circumstances, but they cannot continue to bear the full weight of this issue without the proper infrastructure being in place. They need a facility that provides the space and capacity to respond quickly when someone is in danger. This is about providing a safe, secure place for women and children when they have nowhere else to go. It is about giving them certainty in a moment when their world has been turned upside down. It is about ensuring that Cavan is not left behind as national services expand. People in Cavan deserve the same access to protection as anyone else in the country and with the right focus and decisions, we can finally deliver the refuge the county has needed for far too long. I look forward to the response from the Minister as this is a real human issue. This is not some fanciful notion; it is very important on the ground. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-06/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:54+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-05-06