Joint Committee on Justice to discuss women’s shelters and domestic abuse refuges

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House will hear from representatives of Women’s Aid, Men’s Aid, Saoirse Women’s Refuge and Safe Ireland.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy James Lawless said: “Statistics from our stakeholders illustrate the prevalence of domestic violence in Ireland, including controlling behaviour, economic violence, psychologically abusive behaviour and threats to or abuse of children.

“Matters identified by stakeholders and which the Committee would like to discuss are the incidence and impact of domestic violence in Ireland, impact of domestic violence on children, the number of domestic abuse refuges and the Istanbul Convention, the impact of Covid-19 on the incidence of domestic violence and on services provided to victims, and the assistance of Gardaí in handling cases of domestic abuse.”

The Joint Committee on Justice has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.