Public meeting on gender based violence to allow for important engagement – Farrell

Gender based violence will be the focus of a meeting attended tomorrow evening by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, her party colleagues and the National Women’s Council of Ireland.

Fine Gael Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell will host a hybrid public meeting on gender based violence on Tuesday 5^th April at the Airport Clayton Hotel at 7:30pm.

Deputy Farrell will be joined by Minister McEntee, Dún Laoghaire TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Director of the National Women’s Council, Orla O’Connor, who will speak on important ongoing discussions around domestic and sexual gender based violence.

Deputy Farrell said: “I’m delighted to be hosting this meeting in Dublin Fingal. Gender Based Violence permeates every corner of our society and it is an epidemic that has swept this country. By engaging in a national discussion, I believe we can begin the process of not only building on the legislation and supports that are necessary, but also introducing social accountability in Ireland and turning the tide on this issue.”

Minister McEntee said: “We are at a very important moment in our efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence. There is a shared determination across society that we must have zero tolerance of this kind of abuse and violence.

“I am leading work across Government on our new national strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence, and it is my intention to publish the plan in the coming weeks.

“I look forward to updating the meeting on this important work, but also on the substantial reforms I am already implementing as part of my Supporting a Victim’s Journey plan to put the victim at the centre of the criminal justice system.”

Deputy Carroll MacNeill said: “It is so important we keep Gender Based Violence and gender equality issues at the forefront of our discussions as public representatives, but also as a country.

“Tomorrow night’s meeting provides an important platform to continue the conversation, and to keep people updated on the important ongoing work, not just from the Department for Justice, but also from the Gender Equality Committee as we move to progress the recommendations made in the Citizen’s Assembly, particularly recommendations 37 to 41 regarding Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.