Vol. 473 No. 2
5 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will support the establishment in 1997 of a domestic violence resource unit to provide and co-ordinate a long-term response to tackling violence against women in our society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24663/96]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the suggestion by Women's Aid that a resource unit be established to provide and co-ordinate a long-term response to tackling domestic violence. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has already indicated to the House, in reply to Question No. 98 of 25 September 1996, that the office of the Tánaiste has been assigned responsibility at central Government level for co-ordinating action to deal with relevant Government Departments and other interested groups on the issue of domestic violence. On that occasion he informed the House about the establishment of a working group to develop a co-ordinated response and strategy. That group, chaired by the Minister of State at the Office of the Tánaiste and at the Department of Enterprise and Employment with special responsibility for labour affairs, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, comprises representation from seven Government Departments, including my own, the Garda Síochána and interest groups such as Women's Aid. Part of the remit of the group is to examine existing services and supports for victims of domestic violence and to make recommendations on how those services and supports could be improved and made more effective. The suggestion from Women's Aid will presumably be taken into account by the Government working group.
Is the Minister aware that a recent survey commissioned by Women's Aid has shown that 18 per cent of women reported that they had been subjected at some time to either mental cruelty or another form of physical abuse, 11 per cent had experienced physical violence, meaning not light but serious violence, and that of those who had experienced violence, 71 per cent had suffered broken bones, head injuries, loss of consciousness and miscarriages? Would he agree, therefore, that this is a particularly urgent matter? Those who are dealing with it in Women's Aid and other organisations in that area recognise the need for a resource unit, which should be set up without delay.
I fully share Deputy Woods's concern about this serious subject. As the House will know, in fulfilment of my ministerial responsibilities I introduced and, with the assistance of colleagues in the House, speedily processed through it, the Domestic Violence Bill. I understand that Act is operating very effectively and is bringing considerable relief to many women in particular.
The working group to which I referred operates under the ambit of the office of the Tánaiste. Relevant Departments are represented on it, namely, the Departments of Justice, Education, Social Welfare, Equality and Law Reform, the Environment and Health as well as the Garda Síochána and the health boards. In addition, the NGOs represented on it include a representative, lately of Threshold but currently with Dublin Corporation, a representative of Women's Aid, the National Women's Council, MOVE, the Cork Rape Crisis Centre, the Family Law Association of Solicitors and also Father Pádraig Greene of Boyle, County Roscommon who has a special interest in that regard. All relevant Government Departments and NGOs are being drawn together and I look forward to their ongoing work in this connection. I am sure the suggestions from Women's Aid will be taken into account by the Government working group, in the course of its deliberations. I fully concur with the comments and observations made by Deputy Woods and I am happy to be in a position to assure him that setting up this working group indicates the Government's serious concern about this matter and the active and proactive steps it has taken and will continue to take in that regard.
