Pringle says bill on new Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency must address stakeholder concerns

By Thomas Pringle
Updated: 24th April 2023

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said legislation for the proposed Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency must address concerns raised by organisations working in the field if it is to achieve its aims.

Deputy Pringle said: “The statistics on sexual violence published last week by the CSO are shocking and provide more evidence of the extent of this serious problem.”

Among its findings, the CSO Sexual Violence Survey 2022 showed that 40% of adults experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, including 40% of women and 28% of men. The study also showed that 22% of people aged 18-24 experienced sexual violence both as an adult and as a child.

At a Justice Committee meeting last Tuesday, Deputy Pringle raised issues of the rise in sexual assaults on children, the rise in digital misogyny and the need for a particular focus on engaging with men and boys when addressing gender-based violence and violence against women.

Deputy Pringle said: “It’s been reported that there’s been a rise in sexual assault among children nationally, with a 50% increase in victims under the age of 16 in Donegal last year alone.”

He said: “Due to the significant rise in cases of victims under the age of 16, the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre reduced the age of those who can access its services to 12. They were only able to do this following a successful funding application to the Late Late Toy Show, which I think is reflective enough of what we’re talking about here.”

The committee met for pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency Bill and heard from representatives of organisations working in the field.

In her response to Deputy Pringle, CIíona Saidléar, executive director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, said the CSO survey, the country’s first, would be incredibly helpful because it would allow for development of a national needs assessment, which is important for meeting funding needs.

Dr Saidléar said a national needs assessment is not built into the legislation at the moment and said it was a job that the new agency should be given as a matter of priority.

Deputy Pringle said: “There have been numerous reports suggest digital misogyny is on the rise. I agree with stakeholders today that the agency should have a particular focus on engaging men and boys because I think that’s vitally important.

“I believe there should also be a specific focus on how patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes are being spread via social media. Have you experienced or can you speak to the rise in digital misogyny among young men in particular and have you any suggestions as to how the agency can play a role in combatting this as well?”

In his response, Colm Kelly Ryan, head of programmes and advocacy for the Men’s Development Network, said the general scheme needs to reflect at legislation level the need to engage with men and boys, which would also be in accordance with the Istanbul Convention and the national strategy.

Daire Dempsey, education officer at Transgender Equality Network Ireland, said the online and social media factor was very important and said they have seen a rise in online misogyny and transphobia. They said targeted attacks are happening on social media platforms, and for prevention work to be relevant and make an impact, it must reach young people where this kind of discourse is happening and speak to their experience.

In thanking the stakeholders for their contributions, Deputy Pringle said: “It’s clear, in my mind, that as set up in the legislation here, [the agency] is not going to achieve its aims, unfortunately. I think it would be very good if suggestions were taken on board from the committee here, and from your own contributions.”