Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Motion Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-12 ============================================================ Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber to discuss an increasingly important topic. When we look at the figures in Ireland, we see that there has been a 34% increase in domestic violence since 2021. There has been roughly a 3% increase year on year right around the country. That is quite shocking. We might feel that some of this is due to better reporting but we must always encourage and support victims in reporting domestic violence because it is only then that they can actually get help. Some of the measures the Minister has put in place have been about supporting victims to stand up and protect themselves and their children. All of the work the Minister has been doing to implement and support A Victim's Journey is really important. It takes about eight attempts for a woman to leave her home when she is in danger. I have just finished reading a novel called The Names, which goes into the area of domestic violence. It describes a sliding doors moment and the way that members of a family, through three different scenarios involving the same people, have been the victims of domestic violence. It brings it home time after time that it takes eight attempts. Our responsibility as legislators, and the responsibility of the Minister for justice, is to try to ensure those steps are made easier all of the time. When we look at the statistics across Europe, we see that gender-based violence is the most widespread human rights violation affecting women. It is an epidemic across Europe. Obviously not every country has signed up to the Istanbul Convention, and we have a duty and a role to encourage other countries to do so. Some countries have signed up to it but have not fully implemented it. Within the Council of Europe approximately 34 countries have signed up, which certainly is to be welcomed. As a group, Fianna Fáil Senators felt it was really important to bring this motion forward to both shine a light on the work that is being done on the various legislation the Minister has brought forward, and to make people aware that those protections are there. It is also important to continually look for more. I know the Minister is in favour of and supports our call that there would be a refuge in every single county in Ireland. It is absolutely needed in a huge way. I know this year he is hoping to deliver 52 new family refuge units and 45 new safe houses. An additional 50 new units are under construction. That is really important. I deal with the victims I meet in Teach Tearmainn in Newbridge. I thank the Minister for going there. We are looking for extended space there because unfortunately, a number of people are turned away on an annual basis because there is no room. We need to have that extra room. The supports that refuge centres give, even outside of providing that safe haven, are hugely important because, for some women, leaving home is not a reality for them for different reasons. We cannot question someone's judgment. We have to try to ensure they stay safe if they stay in a place that is not the safest for them. We also have to be able to provide a refuge when they choose to leave. The supports being offered through Teach Tearmainn and other refuges to children who are living with and have moved on from a place of domestic violence are hugely important to how they live their lives and will go on to live their lives, hopefully in a better way. Unfortunately, we often see situations - I am talking about the voice of men and women - where domestic violence is perpetuated from generation to generation, which is particularly difficult. In terms of supporting victims, it is hugely important that a dedicated sexual offences unit has been established. The nationwide roll-out of the divisional protective service units to ensure vulnerable victims are dealt with in appropriate way by gardaí who have specialist expertise is very important. I have spoken to a number of victims who have praised this new training. They genuinely feel that it is really important and it gives a lot. The roll-out of the national campaign on the importance of consent, which we see on our radios and screens, is really important. The fact that we are going into the Irish Presidency of the EU is significant. We need to keep speaking about this difficult issue. I welcome the fact that there are going to be two opportunities to talk about the online impact on young people. The high-level conference on online safety in September will be hugely important, particularly given that the views of young people will feature. The international AI and digital summit in Dublin in October, which will be a flagship event, is hugely important and will give us an opportunity to draw attention to the online abuse which so many people go through. --- 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/2026-05-12/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:55+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-05-12