The Labour Party has called for the expansion of the women's refuge system and the creation of a dedicated nationwide agency as part of a new plan to combat violence against women.
The party's proposals include an immediate provision of €8 million for frontline services for victims. The policy paper, drawn up by Labour Women, urges ending the reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation as a response for victims of domestic violence who are fleeing their homes.
It urges further additional specialised services to help victims, including social workers and sexual assault treatment units.
It also calls for a series of reforms of criminal justice laws and procedures to make the process less traumatic on victims of sexual assault and rape, ensuring speedy court proceedings, and access to free legal advice and representation.
Gardaí also need improved training for dealing with sexual violence and domestic assault cases, and specialised regional units should also be established.
Judges dealing with rape and sexual assault cases should also receive specialised training, the report urges.
Legislative reform should be introduced to provide protection for women trapped into prostitution through human trafficking. New legislation and an awareness campaign should also be introduced to combat pornography as a threat to the safety and wellbeing of women.
New laws should be introduced to introduce tough sanctions against those who profiteer from pornography, prostitution and human trafficking.
The authors, chaired by party member and community development consultant Eleanor McClorey, urge the creation of a nationwide National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency, which is currently operating only on a pilot basis.
It also highlights the lack of spaces in women's refuges around the country.
Refuges are forced to turn women away on a regular basis, leaving victims with no option but to seek temporary shelter in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Launching the report yesterday, Labour justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said he would be bringing the proposals to the party's manifesto committee in order to see them included in the party's election campaign.
Describing the issue as one of fundamental equality, Mr Howlin said the immediate priority was to provide funding for frontline services, which he estimated would cost €8 million. "We need also to have an infrastructure, to provide physical shelter for people," he added.