Groups ‘baffled’ by domestic violence office details

WOMEN’S groups have expressed disappointment at the limited remit of a long-awaited domestic violence office, details of which were announced yesterday.

While the Minister for State Frank Fahey described the establishment of the long awaited Cosc unit as the “crowning achievement” of his career, disappointed women’s groups said they could not understand why issues of rape, trafficking and sexual assault would not be covered.

Speaking at the launch, however, the Minister said he had secured the necessary funding and political backing to finally set up the unit and promised the Cosc unit would be open this summer.

Mr Fahey played down any criticism over the unit’s 10-year delay.

“I can say I am very proud to have this in place before I leave this office. I have been involved in seven departments but this is the most important thing I have been involved in,” he said.

Last night, however, groups dedicated to working with victims of domestic violence expressed shock at the unit’s narrow remit.

Rape Crisis Network of Ireland’s director Fiona Neary said she could not understand why issues of rape, trafficking and sexual assault will not be covered.

“We are baffled at the naming of this agency and deeply troubled at the failure to explicitly nominate all forms of Violence Against Women as being the business of Cosc.

“It would be a very serious missed opportunity for the sector if this agency were to be limited in this way,” she said.

Director of Women’s Aid, Margaret Martin, said Minister Fahey had ignored his own Steering Committee on the issue.

“Recently the committee adopted the United Nations definition on Violence Against Women which covers all forms of violence.

“As service providers we would see that all these issues overlap so I do not know how they can distinguish between domestic violence and everything else,” she said.

These sentiments were backed by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and the National Network of Refuges and Support Services.

Reacting last night a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said while the office would primarily deal with domestic violence this would not preclude it from dealing with other issues. It said it was following what it considered to be best practice in other countries.

Meanwhile, Minister Fahey dismissed opposition claims that the timing of the announcement amounted to cynical electioneering.

“I did not want to release anything until we had the money and backing to actually implement it,” he said.