A new study into familicide and domestic homicides has recommended that a national database should be established for reporting on violent family deaths.
Familicide is classified as a "multiple-victim homicide incident in which the killer's partner or ex-partner, and one or more children are slain".
The review, chaired by solicitor Maura Butler, was asked to recommend how relatives affected by these harrowing crimes could be better supported, and also advises on appropriate protocols and guidelines for state services.
As well as a national database, it recommends a new agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and better training for those likely to encounter victims of such violence.
It states that victims of familicide should not have to pay to clean up the scene of the crime and urges that a scheme be put in place to arrange and pay for cleaning "to relieve bereaved family members from having to do so".
It also recommends that funeral and related costs are paid for by the State for those bereaved by domestic homicide.
The independent report, commissioned by the Department of Justice, consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including family members of victims, non-governmental organisations, and State agencies.
The deaths reviewed in the report occurred between 2000 and 2018, where all legal procedures had been completed.
The report said the lack of a national database made it difficult to ascertain accurate statistics but between 2000 and 2019 public-domain records revealed that at least 166 people were killed in incidents of family violence.
Read more:
Report includes testimony of families who experienced domestic homicide
However, the Office of the State Pathologist told researchers the true figure is even higher with a further 14 victims in 2014-2019 alone who did not feature in public records.
Minister for Justice Simon Harris said family members had shown "tremendous bravery" in sharing their painful experiences to try to improve the system.
"None of us can begin to understand the appalling impact of something like this unless you've lived through it. That’s why we are so grateful to the families for engaging in the process and for giving of themselves and their time," he said.
"It took tremendous bravery and selflessness to use their own experiences of unimaginable pain to make our systems better, and we are indebted to them."
Relatives of victims recounted how they heard the devastating news of the loss of their loved ones.
For some it was from a member of An Garda Síochána, for others it was from family members, neighbours, work colleagues and, in some cases, from the media.
Family members described these moments with one woman, Fiona, recalling "that was the first we heard of it, it was on the news".
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A consultative group with family members of victims will now be established to help implement the recommendations, alongside an Inter Departmental Group and an advisory group of relevant NGOs.
The report requires urgent action and cannot be allowed to gather dust, the Sinn Féin leader has told the Dáil.
Mary Lou McDonald said the State has been an outlier for too long in taking a robust approach to this violence.
She asked that the report is implemented quickly so families can get the support they need without delay.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said Government would implement the report once these groups have been established and the Minister for Justice would take the lead on the issue.
"We will do all we can to respond back to the recommendations," he said.
Better data sharing could help prevent future acts of familicide and violence, Chief Executive of Women's Aid Sarah Benson said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Benson said it is crucial that families, friends and close contacts of the perpetrators and victims are involved in this process,
This could include information on whether there had been contact with law enforcement, health facilities or specialist agencies, such as a domestic violence agency, prior to a violent incident occurring, she added.
"A coming together and a sharing of information - not to find blame, and not to, replace a court of law if that's what's required, but to help us say were there warning signs that we missed, were opportunities missed," she said.
Rapid implementation of legislative change is needed to facilitate real and meaningful structures to help families who suffer from violent incidents, Ms Benson added.
These changes require a whole of Government approach, she said, and should not be dispersed across different departments.
