Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Domestic Violence.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

20 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to tackle the level of domestic violence, having regard to research findings published in the British Medical Journal that four out of every ten Irish women who have had a sexual relationship have suffered domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6095/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Responsibility for responding to issues in relation to domestic violence falls within the remit of a number of Departments. The Department of Health and Children is responsible for the provision of services to victims and for the allocation of funding to non-governmental organisations providing services; the Department of the Environment and Local Government assists in the provision of crisis accommodation; the Department of Education and Science is responsible for educating children in relation to the issue in the schools; and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs funds community development programmes and grant aids local groups dealing with the issue.

My Department has responsibility in terms of legislative measures in relation to domestic violence issues, the enforcement aspects of such legislation and measures to deal with perpetrators, including the establishment of perpetrator programmes.

The relevant legislation is the Domestic Violence Act, 1996. This legislation is comprehensive and provides for a situation where safety, protection and barring orders can be applied for and issued by a District Court as a matter of urgency.

Enforcement of this and other legislation in relation to domestic violence is a matter for the Garda which has a written policy on domestic violence intervention. The policy is clear, unambiguous and non gender specific. It dictates that any incidents of domestic violence reported to the Garda must be fully investigated.

The Deputy will also be aware that in December 1997 the national steering committee on violence against women was established comprising representatives from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors. The committee's remit is to provide a cohesive, multi-agency, and compassionate response to victims. It is chaired by my colleague, Deputy Mary Wallace, Minister of State.

Eight regional committees on violence against women were also established to provide a local-regional response to the issue and to work alongside the national steering committee to develop appropriate responses.

The steering committee has developed awareness campaigns and held and supported a number of conferences in relation to the issue. It has also developed and distributed information leaflets in relation to the services available and produced a national directory of services for women experiencing violence or the threat of violence.

At present the steering committee is conducting research into the development of an intervention model for victims and perpetrators of violence. The model aims to bring all the relevant services together to respond in an effective and timely manner. This will include the Garda Síochána, the probation and welfare service, public prosecutors, the Judiciary and the services dealing with victims and perpetrators.