Introduction
I would like to thank the CEO of Safe Ireland, Sharon O’Halloran, for her kind invitation to attend this event today.
It is a privilege for me to be here at the Safe World Summit and to speak alongside so many influential women and men.
I congratulate you all on the work which has been done to bring this Summit to fruition.
I would like to commend the speakers before me for their moving and empowering testimonies. One of the key things that I take away from these women is their resolute resilience in the face of tragedy.
This is not unfamiliar. I am reminded of the collective trauma experienced by so many among us in Ireland in the recent past.
In my own role as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have met with many people who have experienced tremendous difficulties, loss or trauma in their personal lives.
While we cannot change what has happened, I hope that through compassion, and a resolution for lasting change, we can ensure that the Ireland of the past remains in the past.
Those of you who have already spoken today have given me great encouragement that trauma while not forgotten can be overcome. For those among you who are still in pain, may I wish you a happy and
healthy future.
New Legislation
We gather in Dublin at a key moment in terms of Ireland’s response to domestic violence. It is a hopeful time. Hope sparked by the new Domestic Violence Act 2018, which is due to be commenced in the New Year.
This Act represents a shift – a change of focus – in terms of how the issue of domestic violence is being viewed. One of the main elements is the inclusion of a new crime of coercive control.
This is psychological abuse in an intimate relationship that causes fear of violence, or serious alarm or distress that has a substantial adverse impact on a person’s day-to-day activities.
It is important that we send a clear, consistent message that the use of control by one party in an intimate relationship, even non-violent, is a criminal offence. Under the new act when a person is convicted of a violent or sexual offence against his or her spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are in an intimate relationship, that fact is now an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing.
Overall we are seeing a switch of focus away from the traditional approach where those who protect women and children responded to single incidents of violence.
As a result only cases where the most severe physical violence is inflicted on a woman come before our courts – and therefore to the attention of the wider public.
This led to the myth that domestic violence is only about physical abuse.
It also leads to a general lack of awareness about the levels of domestic violence and more importantly the harms inflicted on women and children.
As a society we need to understand that most of what happens in abusive relationships is not in and of itself criminal.Women tell us that the greatest harms inflicted upon them, and their children, are the result of an ongoing reign of intimidation, isolation and control.
If a victim of a kidnapping were subjected to similar treatment by their captors we would quite rightly be outraged and demanding that justice must be done.
That is the approach which is needed.
The introduction of the new crime of coercive control is a concrete step towards recognising the harm which is being done in many families.
It allows our Gardaí and other frontline agencies to act when a pattern of abuse is discovered – and not have to wait for evidence of a single violent incident.
It is also an acceptance that coercive control as a form of domestic violence is almost entirely perpetrated by men against women with whom they are or have been in an intimate relationship.
Of course getting the legislation in place is one thing – ensuring it has the desired impact is another.
It is important that our Gardaí are equipped with the expertise to identify coercive control – and be skilled to gather the evidence to bring abusers to justice.
We must ensure that the crime is consistently and effectively being responded to. This will require training.
When Gardaí are able to place solid evidence before the courts of the strategies abusers employ to dominate their partners, then the Judiciary will be equipped to convict and impose sentences.
This in turn increases awareness and changes public attitudes.
If we get this right – then there is no reason why the new legislation could not have the same impact on our society as speeding limits, seat belt laws and smoking bans.
Children in Domestic Violence
Domestic violence profoundly affects the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of individuals and families.
As Minister, I am particularly concerned for the welfare of children in the home where domestic violence may occur.
International research confirms that a very significant proportion of child abuse referrals are from situations of violence in the family.
This can impact right into adulthood – and lead to addiction and mental health problems in later life.
We must do everything we can to ensure that children affected by domestic violence are provided with the supports they need to overcome these traumatic experiences.
We know that if left unchecked, the effects of domestic violence can be far-reaching.
Research shows that exposure to adverse childhood experience is associated with poorer outcomes for children in educational attainment, employment, involvement in crime, family breakdown and a range of health and wellbeing measures.
We must be conscious of the fact that coercive control of a child can also continue post separation.
There is a need for skilled assessments to distinguish between situations where there is ongoing coercive behaviour and ones where there is not.
Too often there is an assumption that once separation between the parents happens that the domestic violence is then ‘in the past’. It is over. It is history.
This is often not the case.
Even if the primary target is now beyond the reach of the abuser – a child or children can become the focus of these coercive, frightening and manipulative behaviours.
In order to prevent this we must embed an understanding of coercive control within the courts, state institutions and frontline agencies.
This will have the potential to transform the landscape in which decisions about post separation contact with children are made.
Assessments should be made on when it is in the best interests of the child to have contact with their father.
By deepening the understanding of coercive control we also ensure that those men who have the capacity and the willingness to change are supported.
We must look at court mandated programmes where behaviour change can be monitored and evidence collected over time to ensure the abuser no longer represents a threat.
Such an assessment should be based on evidence that the coercive control strategies of the abuser have ceased.
Tusla
Too often we have witnessed the heavy price that women and children pay by not being cared for in the way they should expect and deserve.
Good progress has been made but it has been hard won. We have stronger laws and better support services, but we still need to do more as a society to tackle this very challenging issue.
Undoubtedly, the whole family will need interventions and supports.
Both statutory and voluntary agencies must work closely to ensure that this happens.
In this country, Tusla the child and family agency continues to build on available services in this area through its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme.
In 2018, we are providing €23.8m in funding for Tusla in the area of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
I am pleased to confirm today that figure will increase by €1.5m next year.
Currently a network of some 60 organisations provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland, including
- 16 rape crisis centres,
- 20 services providing emergency refuge accommodation to women and children, and
- 24 community-based domestic violence services.
Indeed, many of these organisations are represented here today, through the support of Tusla, which I warmly welcome.
I am delighted that work will be completed in the coming months to enable Ireland to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which is crucial to ensure that those who experience violence in the home or elsewhere are provided with the care, protection and consideration that they deserve.
The Programme for Government also commits to the full implementation of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. This Strategy contains a range of actions for Government Departments and agencies to hold perpetrators to account and to improve available services to victims.
I would like to acknowledge the ongoing input of community and voluntary organisations, including Safe Ireland, that work with Government Departments and State agencies.
Your collective input plays a crucial role in the successful delivery of this Strategy.
Conclusion
Today we gather at a historic venue – the home of the first Dáil.
It is where a century ago Countess Markiewicz took her seat as the first female Minister in Britain and Ireland.
In another hundred years, I hope that a person like myself will stand in this very spot, addressing a group of men and women who will have never known gender inequality or domestic violence.
The actions I have outlined today – are the next steps towards achieving that goal.
This is not impossible, but we need to look to the actions we will take now, and in the coming years, to effect real change and ensure that all of our citizens can flourish and lead happy and healthy lives in this Republic.
I am sure this is a cause that the Countess herself would support.
Thank you all.