Mattie McGrath criticises response to domestic violence
Mattie McGrath criticised the government's handling of domestic and gender-based violence, accusing it of repeated failures, delays in publishing reports, and lack of services and emergency accommodation. He also raised serious allegations of harassment and intimidation inside the prison service and urged robust legislation and investigations.
Government inaction highlighted
Mattie McGrath described the debate as hollow and meaningless and accused the government of consistently failing to address domestic and gender-based violence. He highlighted a disgraceful delay in publishing two reports intended to expose the scale of the problem and said statements in the House have not led to action.
Service shortfalls and pandemic impact
McGrath warned of a horrific increase in domestic violence during the pandemic and drew attention to shortages of emergency accommodation and other supports for sufferers. He cited an economic estimate of £2.2 billion and said 3,120 999 calls related to domestic violence were cancelled.
Allegations within the prison service
He raised allegations of harassment, intimidation, victimisation and smear campaigns against prison officers, saying there has been an institutional cover-up by prison authorities. McGrath said false allegations and letters sent to officers' homes have driven good staff from their jobs and that the conduct must be investigated.
Tributes to frontline staff and volunteers
McGrath saluted local Garda units, named sergeants and refuge staff, and praised volunteers and frontline workers for their dedication. He singled out staff in local communities and women's refuges who he said have worked zealously despite institutional obstacles.
Calls for accountability and legislation
He called for proper, robust legislation, for the Gardaí to be allowed to do their job, and for the Commissioner and Mr Drew Horner to take responsibility. McGrath demanded action from ministers and prison authorities to address systemic problems rather than issuing further hollow statements.
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The debate is hollow and meaningless as the government has consistently failed to address key uses concerning domestic and gender-based violence consistently over the last year and indeed all ongoing. The lack of ongoing action by the government is both worrying and pathetic. For example, the disgraceful delay in publishing two reports which aim to highlight the grave nature of the situation and utter lack of provision of services and emergency accommodation to assist sufferers and indeed domestic and gender-based violence. This House continues to have statements on domestic and gender-based violence, but the ongoing failures on the path of the government to highlight the issues raised time and time again are not being addressed. During the pandemic there has been a horrific increase. The economic costs of domestic violence, you hate talking about economic costs, but it's the physical and spiritual and social costs, it's shocking. It's actually £2.2 billion, so we're putting into money terms now. Can I salute the members of Ngarashi Con and Tipperary, and indeed Sergeant Ray Meloni, and indeed Sergeant Cairno Regan in Clarmela, and Gareth Clare Murphy, and indeed the community Garde in care, Ginny Gough, and indeed Noah Clavin. Can I salute the members of Ngarashi Con and Tipperary when the new six-year union was set up? We oversubscribed. They needed two sergeants and ten Garde. We oversubscribed. So that Garde is zealous and wanting to do the job is fabulous. But it's institutionally, it's been blocked and stopped. And many state organisations are blocking this and blocking it, but it's not the good men and women. And the Commissioner has to take responsibility here. Mr Drew Horner has to. I want to salute the staff in Cones there and Clarmela's Women's Refuge, Geraldine Mulan, and Verona Nugent, and indeed Breida Bell, and many others. And all the volunteers will help as well. Because it's just a despicable situation, and we have figures quoted that there were 3,120 999 calls cancelled in relation to domestic violence. That is a shocking indictment. But it's going on. And it's going on inside the prison service. We heard the story in the examiner today about the woman solicitor, which she was expected to go in to meet a client. But the harassment, the harassment, the intimidation, and the victimisation of good, decent prison officers that's going on inside the cabal that runs some of our prisons is disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting. I've raised it here before. Deputy Mayor Tobin has raised it. We've spoken to the Minister, written to the Minister. I've written to the Minister. I might as well write to Clue B or Bray ahead. Not an answer. Not a response. It's an institutional cover-up of what's going on. The bullying and intimidation of good, decent prison officers. Correspondent. False allegations. Smear campaigns. Letters sent to prison officers' homes. And making scandalous allegations. And a point-blank refusal of the prison authorities and the Minister for Justice to deal with this. And some of them are against female prison officers as well. It doesn't matter. It's just a power-hungry group that want to keep control. And that's why it's systemic across our society. And a refusal of government departments and Ministers to deal with it. Because it's institutional, it's supposed to be okay. It's not acceptable when you drive people to dementia. You drive people to need a suicide. When you drive good prison officers out of their jobs. And this needs to be investigated. So we can have these reports and statements here. No good. Proper legislation, robust. And allow the Gardaí to do their job. Thank you, Colonel Connor.
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