Justice minister promised to 'urgently' prioritise fighting sexual violence in Ireland 

Justice minister Helen McEntee: As a new minister and indeed as a young woman, I’m determined to use this office to drive for real and substantial change in relation to sexual violence. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The Justice minister promised to "urgently" prioritise fighting sexual violence in Ireland by progressing new legislation as early as this month as she launched the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's annual report.

The report revealed spiralling levels of demand for its services with 14,159 calls to its national helpline last year; a 42% increase in people seeking accompaniment to specialist Sexual Assault Treatment Units following attacks and a 118% increase in people requesting support through the justice system.