Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice and TD for Dublin Bay South, Jim O'Callaghan, has said that radical reforms are needed to end the scourge of violence against women.
Speaking today following the launch of a Fianna Fáil policy document on tackling violence against women, Deputy O'Callaghan said, "We know that violence against women happens in many forms and the scale is extensive.
"Most assaults on women go unreported. Many women are harassed as they go about their daily lives. More live under intimidatory control hidden behind doors or in silence.
"Unfortunately, there are some men in Ireland who believe that women should be controlled by and submissive to them, and that violence and coercive control is an acceptable way of achieving those aims. Changing this requires a dramatic change in the views those men have of women and in what they see as acceptable behaviour.
"Last month Fianna Fáil held a series of public webinars with external stakeholders on how we can see change from all angles: how we can change the culture of misogyny to respect, what improvements are needed right across the legal system to support victims and their families and ensure access to justice, and what unexplored avenues can better support women in the workplace, community and online.
"The invaluable views and input from the various stakeholders have been incorporated into this document alongside those of Jason Poole, brother of Jennifer Poole who was murdered by her ex-partner last year and Claire Lott, mother of Nadine Lott, who was also murdered by an ex-partner. Their views represent the important voice of victims and their families that sits at the centre of this policy, which we launched today.
"We need a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and this will require all of us - as a society - to commit to change."
-ENDS-
Note to Editors:Policy document attached
here.