Sir, - I wish to take issue with the sentiments expressed by Michael Stephens' letter (September 19th) regarding the so called "domestic violence industry".
Mr Stephens states that he is not trying to trivialise the reality of domestic violence. However, in going on to attack the organisations working to help the victims of such violence, he does just that.
Unfortunately, domestic violence is a reality for a large number of families in Ireland, just as it is in other countries. The victims of domestic violence are not confined to one gender, one class or one age bracket. Children are possibly the biggest victims, in that studies have shown that children growing up in a violent home carry a 50 per cent chance of becoming either a victim or a perpetrator of domestic violence in later life.
I fail to understand why people try to run down organisations set up to help such victims. The services available to women and children who suffer domestic violence have developed in response to needs identified and have been active over the past 25 years. The services have been provided, in the main, by the voluntary sector and they are, unfortunately, a necessity for women and children escaping from the trauma of violence in the home.
I am appalled that these services are seen, by some, as only being in place to give people jobs. From my experience of working with these organisations I know that the individuals working in them would much rather see the need for their organisations disappear. If there was no violence in the family home, there would be no need for such services. This is what we would much prefer to see.
Mr Stephens also referred to the statistics in relation to female victims. In this regard independent research, conducted by the ESRI, has shown that approximately 18 per cent of women and girls over the age of 18 experience violence in a relationship at some stage. However, it is rather simplistic of Mr Stephens to therefore deduce that any given group must contain the relevant proportion of perpetrators or victims.
As Mr Stephens may be aware, I was appointed by An Taoiseach as the chairperson of the National Steering Committee on violence against women. The steering committee is working towards providing a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary and cohesive response to women experiencing violence. In this regard, and in my work as a public representative, I am aware of the dynamics of domestic violence in all its forms.
I would like to make it clear that I abhor violence of any kind, whether perpetrated by a man or a woman. I do recognise that there are male victims of domestic violence and I know that currently there is a study being undertaken by the North Eastern Health Board in this regard. I am aware of the organisation Amen, which offers help and advice to men experiencing violence and I wish them well in their valuable work.
Finally, I think it important to state that as a society we must do what we can to help victims to come forward and seek help. We must show them that we do not condone violence in any form. We should recognise the need for the organisations working to help victims and support them in their work. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Wallace TD, Minister of State, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mespil Road, Dublin 4.