Richard O'Donoghue urges more refuges, condemns violence
Richard O'Donoghue spoke about domestic violence, the shortage of local refuges and cultural portrayals of violence, and raised concerns about people identifying as women competing in women's boxing. He called for more local refuges like Adapt House to be available outside cities and for a clear government message that violence against women, men and children is unacceptable.
Opening remarks and gallery welcome
He began by congratulating those on a new appointment, wished the Minister well in his role, and welcomed people from domestic violence services who were present in the gallery.
Refuge availability in rural areas
He cited Adapt House in Limerick as an example of an important service but said it is not enough. People in rural parts of Limerick must travel into the city to access refuge, which can remove them from local supports; he argued there is a need for more houses within local areas to help those in such situations.
Social media and cultural portrayals of violence
He criticised social media for showing that in some cultures it appears acceptable for men to hit women, saying such content has been seen on social media in Ireland. He emphasised the need to send a clear message that such behaviour is not acceptable for Irish people or any other nationality present.
Concerns about people identifying as women in sport and a government message
He said he respects people who identify as women but expressed strong objection to a person identifying as a woman entering a boxing ring and boxing a woman, saying he has a problem with that. He called on the Government to stand up and state clearly that violence against women, men and children is not acceptable in Ireland.
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Again, congratulations on your new appointment and to the Minister, best of looking in his position also. For people from domestic violence, and I welcome the people in the gallery today, the services like Adapt House in Limerick isn't enough. If you're in the rural part of Limerick, you have to go into the city to get refuge. So you're taking people out where they may have supports locally, where we need more houses like that within the areas to help people that are in that situation. I have a big issue with media, because if you look at social media at the moment, and you look across all the different cultures that are shown on social media, it shows that it's acceptable in some cultures that men can hit women, and it's been shown on social media even here in Ireland. So we also have to send out a clear message. This is not acceptable for the Irish people or any other nationality that's here. It's not acceptable, and we need to send that clear message out. We watched the Olympics recently, and this is where the Government also need to stand up, where we have people that are identifying as a woman. And I have no problem with a person identifying as a woman. I don't, because I respect you, I see two genders, but I respect whatever you are. That's fine. But when I see a person that is identifying as a woman and goes into a boxing ring, and boxes a woman, and that globally is accepted, I have a problem with that. A huge problem with that. But the Government here needs to send out a clear message to everyone that it is not acceptable for violence against women, it is not acceptable for violence against men, it is not acceptable for violence against children. We have to make sure that the message comes clear and strong from Government that it is not acceptable in Ireland. Thank you.
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