Dáil to debate Labour motion on gender-based violence

The Dáil will debate a Labour motion on gender-based violence on July 3rd.

The motion comes in the wake of the Natasha O’Brien case, which sparked national outrage following a controversial ruling in a Limerick court.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said “Natasha O’Brien’s case has resonated with people across the country, as is evident from the numerous communications I have received urging for action to be taken to tackle violence against women and ensure greater support for victims.”

“Time and again, victims tell us that they feel let down by the very system meant to protect them.

“We urgently need to see the publication of clear sentencing guidelines by the Judicial Council. Our motion will call on the Government and the Minister for Justice to initiate a review of sentencing practices, in particular the practice of suspending custodial sentences in cases of violent crime.”

“It is time to act decisively to ensure that our legal system delivers true justice and support for victims of violent crimes. It’s time for this Government to act,” she said.

The motion will commend Natasha O’Brien as well as the “powerful advocacy that she has provided on behalf of the victims and survivors of violent crime” and will look to address what Labour calls an “epidemic of gender-based violence” as well as the “the re-victimisation that is experienced by so many survivors as a result of criminal justice processes in some cases that go through the courts.”

The motion notes that recent sentencing decisions have caused significant public disquiet with serious questions about sentencing outcomes for those convicted of gender-based violence, as well as other violent crimes.

Women’s Aid have reported that they have recorded over 40,000 disclosures of abuse against women in 2023, an 18% increase on 2022.

Research has found that Ireland is still below the required provision laid out in the Istanbul Convention of one family refuge place for every 10,000 of population.

The motion says that Ireland needs at least 512 new places, well above the planned 280 places that will be in place by the end of 2026.

Labour says that “significant” policy changes have taken place to address domestic, gender and sexual based violence in Ireland, including the establishment of Cuan to implement the Zero Tolerance strategy, but “much work remains to be done”.

The motion calls for a review of the practice of suspended sentences, and the criteria used for applying these to those convicted of violent crimes, clear guidelines on the use of character references, as well as a “comprehensive” database of judicial sentences.

In addition, reforms to the Irish court system are being sought, in order to “better protect and support victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including provision of effective training for legal professionals and the judiciary.”

The motion called for “more consistency in sentencing,” and more rehabilitation programmes for people who carry out domestic, sexual and gender-based violence should be implemented.