Committee was kept in the dark about domestic violence office

THE Steering Committee on violence against women has expressed disappointment at being kept in the dark about the announcement of a new national domestic violence office.

Later today Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is scheduled to join Tánaiste Michael McDowell in announcing the creation of the office at the launch of the long-awaited National Women’s Strategy.

Reacting to strong criticism regarding the timing of the announcement at the launch of a manifesto on domestic violence yesterday, Women’s Aid Director Margaret Martin said the concept of a domestic violence office had been mooted at previous meetings but that no time frame had been agreed.