Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 7

Written Answers. - Working Group on Violence Against Women.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

34 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Irish Federation of Refuges (details supplied), our primary provider of accommodation for battered women, has not been invited to be part of the working party on domestic violence, co-ordinated by Minister for State Eithne Fitzgerald. [5616/97]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

35 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the working party on domestic violence will complete its assignment; and if its proposals will include the expertise of the Irish Federation of Refuges (details supplied). [5617/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.

A working group on violence against women was set up by the Government in September 1996. The main task of the working group is to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with violence against women with a particular focus on domestic violence.

Membership of the group is drawn from Government Departments, the Garda, Síochána, health boards and individual experts and practitioners from outside the public sector. The representatives include a number of individuals who have been involved in the work and management of refuges including representatives from Women's Aid and Carlow Aid for Women.

For practical purposes the size of the working group had to be kept at a manageable level. However, in order to provide an opportunity for a wide range of interests, which it was not possible to accommodate on the working group, to put forward their views, a consultative seminar was arranged in November last year. The Federation of Refuges attended and contributed to the seminar and all the views expressed have been taken on board by the group in their work. In addition, the chairperson of the working group, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, Minister of State, has had a number of bilateral meetings with various individuals and groups including two meetings with the Federation of Refuges. The views of the federation and all other interested groups will be fully taken into account by the working group in drawing up its report for Government.

It is hoped that the report will be ready for submission to Government by the end of March.