The Minister for Justice has said that any type of of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, violent or non-violent abuse "is a serious crime" and said she believes a sentence or punishment must match that crime.
Helen McEntee said she plans to improve the supports available to victims of domestic abuse, as well as the structures and systems.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said that plans are under way to fix problems with refuges for victims of domestic and sexual violence and an accommodation review will be brought before Government next week.
Her comments come after RTÉ Investigates spent time in a number of women's refuges across the country, hearing stories of women who had suffered domestic abuse.
During the pandemic, refuges have come under increasing pressure, with calls from women needing support increasing by an order of magnitude – in some cases by as much as 150%.
Minister McEntee said an audit has taken place looking at how policies are developed, how services and refuge places are delivered and whether changes need to be made.
"We've listened to, and I've listened to, and my colleagues have listened to the frontline workers, the community and voluntary sector - those who deliver these services," she said.
"Based on that audit, based on that accommodation review, we're bringing together the delivery of policy and services."
'You couldn't fail to be moved' by the #RTEInvestigates on domestic violence, @MorningIreland tells Minister for Justice.
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 8, 2022
'It was a very upsetting programme,' @HMcEntee agrees. She says more refuges and increased capacity are planned, as part of a range of measures. pic.twitter.com/UCmZnvf4AD
Ms McEntee said she will be the lead minister with responsibility for delivering those refuge spaces within a matter of weeks.
She said that she was aware that there are many counties that do not have a refuge service and work is under way to change the structure to ensure this does not continue.
The minister added that funding is not the issue, but that the system and structure means the Government essentially has to wait until someone comes forward to offer a service.
Domestic abuse in Ireland - a year in crisis
Read more | Watch the programme
However, Ms McEntee added that work is under way with a number of departments to change this.
She said that victims who are forced to flee their homes should receive HAP payments, which is Government policy.
Ms McEntee also said that the court system is being modernised, so that when people turn up on a given day, their case will be heard on that day.
There will be more educating of judiciary, the legal profession, solicitors, barristers with training among judges "as to how they can better understand and support victims and know that by adjourning and that by putting things off continuously, that you are re-traumatising victims among other things, but also looking at making sure that victims fully understand the process and the system and the structures," she said.
The minister said the Judicial Council is looking at sentencing guidelines and prioritising sexual assault in the first instance.
Asked about reports that people who left abusive homes became homeless after their Housing Assistance Payment was removed, Minister @HMcEntee tells @MorningIreland 'It should never happen. The policy is very clear ... if you have to flee your home then HAP should be provided'. pic.twitter.com/TRoy30SBIS
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 8, 2022
The minister said she was left feeling very angry and frustrated after watching the RTÉ Investigates documentary last night.
She said it left her feeling very angry and frustrated, and prompted her to think carefully about what the Government can do for victims of domestic and sexual abuse - most of whom are women.
Minister McEntee said she has prioritised the issue of domestic and sexual abuse since she took office and published a plan supporting a victim's journey within two months of becoming Minister for Justice.
"But I think you have a responsibility, when you're the person in the highest office of the land, to be very careful about the language that you use," she said.
Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion said the Government must address the issues raised in the programme, particularly the problems around lack of refuges in some areas.
She said: "The women and children featured in [the] programme faced prolonged mental, physical, sexual and economic abuse from their partners and in some cases as a direct result of the pandemic. [They] are exceptionally brave for sharing their stories.
"Their stories cannot be ignored and warrant an immediate response from Government.
"We saw the vital role refuges play in protecting women, their children and providing them with the tools to get out of violent homes and rebuild their lives."
RTÉ programme revealed 'horror and brutality' of domestic violence
The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that last night's RTÉ Investigates programme revealed "the horror and brutality of domestic violence".
"A big power of the programme...was allowing victims to speak", Micheál Martin said.
He was responding to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore who said that the reporting on domestic violence last night "was really harrowing".
The Taoiseach said he thinks that the Department of Housing "would be forthcoming" to an approach from local authorities who want to establish refuges for those fleeing domestic violence in counties where no functioning refuge exists.
Micheál Martin said that this could be an interim measure while a national response is being drafted.
The issue was also raised by several deputies during Taoiseach's Questions, including Brendan Smith Fianna Fáíl TD, who said that Cavan and Monaghan are two of the counties that do not have a refuge for domestic violence.
