Varadkar’s vow to tackle domestic violence

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar says his Government has ratified a convention on domestic violence and strengthened our own laws in an effort to confront what he described as an ‘epidemic’.

Six women have died violently in domestic circumstances in Ireland this year. Mr Varadkar was asked at a press conference last week what his Government intends doing about domestic violence.

The Taoiseach told journalists at Government Buildings on Friday: ‘On domestic violence, it’s something I’ve an interest in, personally, and that has been a priority of the Government for the last couple of years.

‘I’m conscious that more women last year were killed by a man they know than were killed as a result of drug-related or gangrelated feuds.

‘It is that common – domestic violence – and there is an epidemic of it in the world and it needs to be stopped. So what has the Government done? We’ve ratified the Istanbul convention on domestic violence, which I think is a big step forward.’

He aded: ‘We’ve strengthened the laws around consent and also introduced a new offence around coercive control. We’ve given additional support to the gardaí, and gardaí are now setting up the equivalent of special victims units in every division, which I think is long overdue.’

Mr Varadkar also stressed that there has been increased funding in key areas, including domestic violence services, information campaigns, academic studies and women’s refuges.