Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
89. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the actions she will take in response to the unlawful gender-based killing of an Irish woman in Spain; if, given the worryingly high levels of gender-based homicide in Ireland, she will now direct the resources to ensure we begin to reverse this horrific trend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33957/23]
View answerI would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Kirsty Ward on their tragic loss. I was deeply shocked by her killing, and it is unfortunately another appalling example of a woman’s life being taken violently, and another example of a family left suffering.
An Garda Síochána have been liaising with the family and I hope that they will do all they can do assist at this very difficult time.
While the Deputy will appreciate that as Minister for Justice I cannot comment on the individual circumstances of a particular case, tackling violence against women and Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence has been an absolute priority for me since I was appointed Minister for Justice.
This is reflected in a significant €9m increase in Budget 2023 allocations for DSGBV. Separately, €5.8 million in funding has been allocated to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which includes victims of domestic and sexual crime, and in the development of our policy and legislation.
Twelve months ago I published our Zero Tolerance strategy. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic violence or the attitudes which underpin it.
The €363 million strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented through new oversight structures.
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, Government also agreed to establish a new statutory agency which will be operation in 2024 and will ensure this priority area continues to receive the expertise and focus needed to drive it forward.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews was recently published, and is being examined by my Department.
We will work closely with families in taking forward this work and I will announce further details in the autumn.
The report itself is comprehensive and far reaching, containing a large number of recommendations of varying degrees of complexity.
A number are already being progressed through my Department’s work to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims. Others will require further examination by three new groups that will assist in taking this work forward.
I have also committed to an advisory committee drawn from the families of victims who will work with my Department on the recommendations.
