There are just 21 refuges in Ireland for ‘battered’ wives and partners with 4,796 requests for refuge not met in 2015, say Caroline Forde, Carol Ballantine, and Nata Duvvury

Older women could be forced into poverty because of inadequate pensions, a reliance on partners they may outlive and historically poor working conditions.

A new report out this morning has recommended that the Government introduce a universal flat-rate pension, which would amount to about 40% of the average industrial wage.