Ireland experiencing 'epidemic' of domestic and gender-based violence

Helen McEntee said a hike in demand for support services for sexually-exploited women is the 'tip of the iceberg'. Picture: Mark Stedman

Domestic and gender-based violence is an “epidemic” in Irish society, and the surge in demand for support services for sexually-exploited women is just the “tip of the iceberg”, the minister for justice has said.

At the launch of anti-sexual exploitation charity Ruhama’s annual report, Helen McEntee said a long-awaited review of the 2017 sexual offences legislation — which made paying for sexual services a criminal offence — should be ready within the coming weeks.