51 Upper Mount Street
Spokesperson:
Dublin City Council
0879156909
Wednesday, June 19th 2013
Paddy Mc Carton encourages submissions on domestic and sexual violence
Fine Gael Councillor / Local Area Representative Paddy Mc Carton, is encouraging members of the public to make submissions to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Defence for a report it is compiling on domestic and sexual violence.
“Pictures carried in newspapers of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson apparently being assaulted by her husband will shock many people. But they may also help other victims to realise that domestic violence does not discriminate in terms of wealth, social standing or celebrity.
“Sexual and domestic violence is a pervasive problem, from which no section of society can be insulated. This harsh reality was laid bare by last week’s Women’s Aid report which contained shocking statistics on the amount of women and children being abused in this country. There were 16,200 disclosures of domestic violence against women to Women’s Aid in 2012, with 3,320 disclosures of emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children.
“The Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Defence is currently inviting submissions from interested groups and individuals in the area of domestic and sexual violence, so a set of recommendations can be compiled for the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter TD, on how this problem can be tackled.
“I would encourage individuals and groups with experience in this area to make submissions to the Committee before June 30th. This shouldn’t be viewed as a problem that could happen to someone else; it could be your mother, your sister, your daughter. Play your part in changing how we as a society deal with domestic violence.”