Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has renewed a call for the Minister for Justice to implement a domestic violence register.
The Fianna Fáil Senator renewed her calls for a domestic violence register today in the Seanad saying:
“Violence against women is an epidemic in this country. In 2021, Womens Aid reported 28,096 disclosures of abuse against women. 19,902 cases of emotional abuse, 4,707 cases of physical abuse, 2,383 of economic abuse and 1,104 cases of sexual abuse. 96% of those supported on their Freephone Helpline were women.
“We need to implement a domestic violence register to inform women if they’re entering a relationship or are in a relationship with someone who has a history of domestic violence.
“If we are serious about tackling these issues, we need to support local gardai and our justice system with the information they so desperately need.
“Maya Angelou said, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” We are not giving people the ability to believe them the first time, because we are not giving them access to the information they so desperately need.”