Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, has criticised the perceived lack of effort shown by the Government in their so-called zero-tolerance stance on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. She held the view that this zero-tolerance policy was far from being enforced in our judicial system, as she observed numerous instances of violent culprits being lightly punished. Cairns expressed her concerns during a Dáil session, while presenting her party’s Private Member’s motion for embracing a zero-tolerance viewpoint on these issues.
She also raised questions about several sectors such as the taxi, counselling, and dental sectors and the lack of stringent regulations therein. She broached the need to revisit the Dentists Act of 1985, enabling the Dental Council of Ireland to impose penalties on unlicensed dentists operating despite having criminal records, inclusive of sexual assault cases.
Cairns further questioned the delay in putting forth a law that prohibits landlords from asking for sexual favours in exchange for rent. Two years before, her party proposed a legislation to this effect, which the Government objected but did not come up with an alternative law.
A five-year plan for Zero Tolerance reform was put out in public by the Government two years ago, aiming to create an environment where domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and the attitudes fostering it are unacceptable. Despite this, Cairns lamented that this zero-tolerance policy too often appears to be a zero-effort policy, particularly in the context of regulations for counsellors and therapists, who she claimed, often operated in an unregulated environment, leading to greater vulnerability for their clients. Finally, she expressed her frustration that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was unable to provide a timeline for the completion of the review of professional regulations.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee shared that efforts to halt the use of counselling notes of sexual violence victims in court continue, with an outcome expected in the latter half of this year. The matter has been a major concern for many victims, she noted.
Additionally, the Health Minister is partnering with representatives from counselling, psychotherapy, and dentistry sectors to establish necessary structures and oversight mechanisms. This will ensure clear supervision of those working with particularly vulnerable individuals.
However, transforming institutional structures and culture won’t be achievable within the timeframe of a single strategy or government term, McEntee warned. It requires a persistent, long-term focus.
While McEntee wished she could confidently say “never again” each time an incident occurs, she believes we are far from that point. The ongoing issue that disturbs her the most is the knowledge that daily, women are experience mistreatment from men.
Every day, she emphasized, individuals – women, men, and children – fall victim to domestic, sexual, and gender-based abuses. The only remedy, she stressed, is a commitment to effect change in our institutions and culture, to strive for complete non-acceptance of such violence. This change, she noted, won’t be easy or fast, but it is necessary.