Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle: Government must prioritise funding for services and programmes that target gender-based violence

Pringle: Government must prioritise funding for services and programmes that target gender-based violence

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said Government must prioritize funding for services and programmes that target gender-based violence.

Deputy Pringle said: “The danger is that this House, in being seen to respond to the situation, will see the passing of legislation as a sufficient response. That may be necessary, but I don’t think it is. There is a lot that can be done before we legislate.

“In this country we are great at proposing legislation, but terrible at implementing it. What we need is implementation rather than passing even more legislation,” he said. The deputy said Rape Crisis Network Ireland sent a very worthwhile document to members yesterday that outlined what needs to be done and did not mention legislation.

Deputy Pringle said: “When we consider that the Rape Crisis Centre receives funding of €25 million per annum and the Horse and Greyhound fund gets around €70 million, it shows where the priorities of the system lie. We need as a country and legislature to step up to the mark and as a government you have to prioritise funding for rape crisis. No one in this house would oppose your doing so.”

He also noted that Ireland is only at 29 per cent of the Istanbul Convention targets for the provision of women’s refuges.

Deputy Pringle said: “Last year Minister O’Gorman said in the Dáil that we chose to provide the number of women’s refuge places because ‘community-based organisations and outreach supports are in place alongside refuges’. That really doesn’t need to be commented on but if that is the height of our ambition for women, we have a long way to go.”

The deputy addressed the Dáil on Wednesday evening to support Sinn Féin’s private member’s bill on policies to eliminate violence against women and girls and to end tolerance of gender-based harassment and violence.

He began his remarks by extending his sympathy to the family of Ashling Murphy and to the community of Tullamore and surrounding area.

Deputy Pringle said: “Sadly we could have this debate or discussion on any number of occasions, in any year that I have been a member of the Dáil. I think that says a lot about the situation of women and some people will say that it is because there are not enough women members of this House that we don’t have this discussion.”

“But in reality there are enough members of the group of perpetrators of violence against women that we can talk to that need to listen to women, stand with women, and bring the change that is required. Because it is by talking to men and influencing men that we can bring change. The men that are members of this House can lead that change,” he said.