It is an unfortunate characteristic of Irish governments, not just the present administration, that they are all too often reactive rather than proactive when it comes to taking the initiative.
Sometimes groups are obliged to force the pace of political action by bringing the shortcomings to the attention of organisations outside the state. Last month the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) asked the United Nations’ committee against torture to put pressure on the government to provide greater protection for victims of sexual abuse.
The organisation is concerned about the delay in setting up the required number of garda protective services units specialising in investigating sexual crimes. Only four of the units, long promised for each of the gardaí’s 28 divisions, were established as pilot operations last month despite the gardaí acknowledging in 2013 the need for trained expert sexual crime investigators.
Moreover, one of the critical areas highlighted by the DRCC was a lack of reliable data about sexual offences in Ireland. Astonishingly, the most recent national study was the 2002 Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland report, despite available figures indicating a rise in gender violence in this country.
Even though Ireland is required under European legislation to have quality, state-specific data on the scale of sexual violence, the government this year abandoned plans for a national study on sexual violence and rape, despite the objections of Frances Fitzgerald, the justice and equality minister at the time.
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She was correct to object to the shelving of the study. Without up-to-date and accurate figures that examine the extent of the problem, it is impossible to put together a co-ordinated response and funding for victims of such abuse.
A study is even more important at this juncture, since questions have been raised about the accuracy of gardaí statistics. In April, Women’s Aid cast doubt on the reliability of gardaí domestic abuse statistics, which are disproportionately lower than statistics recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Gardaí figures show 6,000 incidents in the Republic last year compared with 29,000 recorded by the PSNI in a region with a smaller population.
Much heel-dragging and buck-passing has ensued since the government first pledged a study in 2011, with a squabble over funding at the heart of the matter. Ministers refused to provide the money required on the grounds that it was not their department’s responsibility. Ms Fitzgerald was unsuccessful in persuading the departments of education, health, and children and youth affairs to share the €1 million cost with her justice department.
However, there is a sign that a new Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland study may yet be given approval. With Ireland poised to receive a reprimand from the United Nations, Simon Harris, the health minister, now says that his department is open to funding part of the report, if the move is approved by Charlie Flanagan, the justice minister, and other departments join in.
Once again it is outside pressure that is proving to be the catalyst for government action. Having listened to the Irish delegation last week defend the state’s record on prisoner rights, refugees and domestic violence during a session in Geneva, the United Nations’ committee against torture will issue its report card shortly.
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It should not take the threat of a bad mark from the United Nations to spur our government to take action on an issue as critical as discovering the extent of sexual and domestic abuse against our most vulnerable citizens — especially the many incidences of violence which have hitherto gone unreported.