Violence against women is endemic, while supports are constantly eroded

TD for Dublin South West Sean Crowe has appealed to the Government to no longer bury its head in the sand while the women of Ireland suffer from gender-based violence.
 
Speaking recently Teachta Crowe said “The brutal murder of Ashling Murphy has shone a light on what women in this country have had to live with forever. We saw this no more clearly than in the Kerry Babies Case. Joanne Hayes’s life was destroyed by a sustained campaign of institutional violence against her that lasted almost 40 years.
 
“State apologies before trying to sweep our shame under the carpet are not good enough. “Gender-based violence is endemic in our society and it’s time we were mature enough to recognise that and do something about it. “One crime that saw reports skyrocket during the pandemic was domestic violence. This was seen across practically every county and yet Budget 2021 or 2022 failed to address or prioritise domestic violence as a national problem.
 
“Official Ireland is burying its head in the sand while women suffer. “A 2020 report by Transport Infrastructure Ireland found that over 50% of women would not use public transport at night. Almost 1 in 10 women surveyed in Dublin had experienced sexual harassment on public transport. “Only last year, we found out that Gardaí had cancelled over three thousand 999 calls relating to domestic violence. Women crying out for help and their calls were not even logged by the authorities.
 
“There are only 144 spaces in women’s refuges across the state. Safe Ireland received over ten times as many requests for accommodation in the first half of last year alone. Dublin has 31 beds. 31 for a population the size of Dublin.
 
“Austerity era cuts have never been reversed across the sector. Many projects have less money year on year and find it impossible to provide the level of service that the people who rely on them require.
 
“I would like to commend my colleague Louise O’Reilly whose Domestic Violence Leave Bill is being discussed at Committee Stage as I speak. Domestic violence dominates a person’s life. It follows them from home to the workplace and these workers need greater protection.
 
“The debate we have having needs to extend beyond just words and I would like to see actions and solutions come from this Dáil Chamber.”