Kenny says agents of violence against women must be ‘ashamed’

Those who inflict violence against women are cowardly and should be ashamed of themselves, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said following publication of a report by Women’s Aid on domestic abuse.

It highlighted 22,341 reports of abuse including 16,375 cases of domestic abuse against women and almost 6,000 cases of child abuse.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who raised the issue during Dáil Leaders’ Questions, said “women have been choked, scalded, strangled, punched, spat at, cut with knives and hit with golf clubs. These are acts of barbarism.”

Dating relationships

Mr Howlin appealed to the Taoiseach to prioritise the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill. He also asked Mr Kenny to allow for a debate on the issue and agree to the amendment of the draft Bill to extend the same protections to women in dating relationships but not living with their partners that are proposed for cohabiting couples.

And he called on the Taoiseach to agree to extending funding for the 24/7 national freephone helpline. The Wexford TD referred to Women’s Aid, the voluntary agency that supports women and children suffering abuse, and said “the very least this House can do is ensure women who are vulnerable have some mechanism to reach out on a 24-hour basis”.

He asked Mr Kenny to “ensure whatever resources are required to make such a service available are provided”.

The Taoiseach told him “if the making of a call would protect one person fearing for her life, the helpline will have to be considered”. Mr Kenny said he did not know the costs but was sure a case could be made and he pledged to “follow up on that case immediately”.

There should be an opportunity to “debate a report of such profound implications for women all over the country as it needs to be debated”, the Taoiseach added. He had “every sympathy” with Mr Howlin’s proposal “for an amendment so protection may be given to victims of this kind of crime”.

The Government had set out a range of priorities for legislation, and the Taoiseach said he would advise Mr Howlin on the programme for legislating in respect of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill.

The Labour leader said that in the past 20 years, 211 women had been murdered in Ireland, “almost half at the hands of people using their bare hands”.

Living in fear

In 2015, he said “far too many women lived in fear. That continues this year. The women live in fear of physical and psychological abuse and they fear for their children. As a House, we must put an end to that.”

Independents 4 Change TD Joan Collins welcomed Mr Howlin’s comments but said he seemed to have forgotten Labour was in power for the past five years.

“The abuse of women did not start today or yesterday,” she said.

The Taoiseach said the report “reflects a hidden, dark Ireland that needs to be dealt with and exposed. Those who inflict the kind of brutality in question on womenfolk should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”