Achieving zero-tolerance of violence against women requires a "step-change from Government", Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Ms McDonald said the Women's Aid report "makes for grim reading".
She said that all the statistics around domestic violence are going in the wrong direction.
Ms McDonald told the Dáil that 44% of victims found gardaí unhelpful.
"Support services remain underfunded and overstretched ... and Government is also failing to meet its obligations in respect of refuge spaces," she said.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he will bring forward an amendment to ensure that counselling notes can only be used in a trial, if there is a risk that not using them would lead to an unfair trial.
He said it should not be the first instinct to find another place to live for a woman who is subject to domestic abuse.
"The response should be, how can be get the abuser out of the home?"
The minister insisted that every member of the Dáil is taking this issue seriously and he commended the work done in this area by his predecessor Helen McEntee.
He expressed concern that a percentage of women were not satisfied with their initial engagement with gardaí but he said a majority were satisfied.
"I'm sure it can be improved, but the gardaí do an excellent job," he said.
'Epidemic of violence against women' - Labour
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the report from Women's Aid has revealed there is "an epidemic of violence against women" in Ireland.
She said it was concerning that so many of those questioned, who had contacted gardaí about domestic abuse, found them to be unhelpful.
She said that while Ireland has a suite of laws against gender-based violence, they are ineffective if the first line of defence - gardaí - are not implementing the law.
She told the Dáil: "This isn't zero tolerance but reflects a dismissive attitude."
She added: "Gardaí clearly require more training" to ensure consistency in their response.
Read more: 33% of Women's Aid contacts were abused by ex-partner - report
In reply, the minister said that a majority of those questioned in the Women's Aid report had registered a "positive experience."
He said that ensuring a consistency in garda reponse was important, and would be developed.
The minister told the Dáil that a priority needed to be placed on warning boys and young men against using violence against women and girls.
He said, in addition, the dangers of porn also needed to be highlighted to men and boys, particularly given the fact that it always portrays women in a "submissive and malleable manner."
'Online influencers poisoning young men' - Social Democrats
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said the findings in the Women's Aid report were "deeply disturbing" but "not surprising".
He said online influencers were poisoning young men with misogyny and the State was doing almost nothing to stop it.
The Dublin Central TD said online algorithms were supercharging violence against women and he called on the Government to act and regulate systems.
Minister O'Callaghan said in response that there is a big responsibility on social media companies to not allow platforms to become platforms of misogyny or violence against women.
He said the issue could not be resolved domestically and the Digital Services Act was there to regulate companies at an EU level.
But he added that there was a divergence between the US and the EU on the extent of regulation required.
And he said the Government was clear that regulation was needed to stop the spread of the problem.
