Gender Equality Committee to discuss domestic, sexual and gender based violence with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House between 13:30 - 16:30.

The Committee will discuss the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality regarding the Constitution (recommendations 1-3) and Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (recommendations 37-41).

The Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality delivered 45 recommendations in its report which was published last year. 

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Ivana Bacik said: “The Committee welcomes the opportunity to discuss recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality with the Minister.” 

“The focus of tomorrow’s hearing is to concentrate on the recommendations relating to changes to the Constitution and on domestic, sexual and gender based violence.”

“Recommendations 1-3 set out that Article 40.1 of the Constitution should be amended to refer explicitly to gender equality and non-discrimination. Article 41 of the Constitution should be amended so that it would protect private and family life, with the protection afforded to the family not limited to the marital family."

“Assembly members recommended that Article 41.2 of the Constitution should be deleted and replaced with language that is not gender specific and obliges the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community.”

“Recommendations 37-41 concern domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Assembly members recommended that all Government action to prevent and counter domestic, sexual and gender-based violence should be coordinated by a Cabinet Minister with direct responsibility for implementation of a national strategy.”

“Responsibility for coordination across government of policy and measures to address domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is held by the Department of Justice. However, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is a body under the aegis of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence”

“This is a timely opportunity to speak with the Minister  regarding these recommendations in particular following the murder of Aisling Murphy and to receive an update on his Department’s plans to tackle gender based violence and assaults.”

Watch the Committee proceedings live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.