21 Nov 2013, 16:39
To coincide with UN Day Opposing Violence Against Women and the start of the International 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women which starts tomorrow, the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality has today, Thursday, 21st November 2013, published the submissions it has received in relation to domestic and sexual violence.
Last April, the Committee invited written submissions from interested groups or individuals in relation to the issue of Domestic and sexual Violence.
Deputy Anne Ferris, Vice Chair of the Committee and Rapporteur on the issue says: “While crime figures are going down in almost all other areas, there is an increase in the number of domestic violence cases being reported. Our Committee agreed to examine this alarming trend in detail and invited a wide range of informed opinion from organisations and individuals to give their perspectives on how domestic violence be reduced and eliminated. Having received more than 40 submissions, we intend to hold a series of hearings on the issue of domestic and sexual violence in the New Year. Following the hearings our Committee hope to make genuine, practical and realistic recommendations to the Minister in a report on the subject.”
Committee Member and Co-rapporteur Marcella Corcoran Kennedy says: “Ahead of the UN Day Opposing Violence Against Women and to coincide with the launch of Women’s Aid One in Five Campaign to highlight the prevalence of domestic abuse in Ireland and to highlight the public hearings that the Committee will hold on domestic and sexual violence, the Committee has published the submissions it has received on the issue. We also hope that by putting these submissions in the public domain, it will stimulate debate and lead to a more informed engagement on this subject at our hearings in the New Year.”
Access the submissions here: http://bit.ly/1iy1GtM
Media Enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]
Senators: Ivana Bacik (LAB); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND); Tony Mulcahy (FG).