"VIOLENCE in the home is a horrible act and society, I think, is now more aware of the insidious, cowardly and brutal measure it can be against its victims. The title of the Bill is intended to put that subject to the forefront, not to hide it as the 1981 Act, Family Law (Protection of Spouses and Children Act)."
So said the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, introducing the second stage of the Domestic Violence Bill 1995 in the Seanad. The Bill repeals and re enacts with substantial amendments the 1981 Act. It was welcomed by all groups.
The lack of research in this area was referred to by several speakers, including Mr Dan Neville, Fine Gael spokesman on Justice.
"The Women's Aid board in 1994 alone fielded 6,000 cases of women reporting violence and it is estimated that in the Dublin area between 10 and 15 assaults on women take place every day."
Ms Cathy Honan (PD) said the lack of research was an indication of how inadequately the problem is being dealt with in this country. There were no statistics. "How can any problem be properly responded to if we do not have the figures to show the magnitude of the problem?"
Earlier she said that women were often asked why they did not leave home years before. It was obviously not realised that most women did not have the resources or the supports to do so. Many of them also feared the stigma that attached to a woman leaving the family home. Such a question to women should be countered with one asking why men abused women.
Ms Marian McGennis, Fianna Fail spokeswoman on Justice, said that some of the submissions on this Bill showed that domestic violence cut across all classes. The Women's Aid survey showed that 18 per cent of women who reported to it had finished their education after primary school, but 20 per cent had received third level education.
All previous perceptions that domestic violence was "a feminist fantasy" were now totally disproved. She asked why there was such an "appalling" lack of refuge places for battered and abused women in Dublin alone there were only 16 places.
Referring to women in a non marital relationship, Dr Mary Henry (Ind) asked about the position of the children of such a violent relationship. Surely they should be given the same attention and supports as children of married couples?
She also asked if it was true that women in these relationships could not obtain a barring order.