Clare’s Sinn Féin TD has criticised the government’s handling of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Violet Anne Wynne’s remarks come as the Minister for Social Protection has made the decision not to provide a COVID-19 domestic violence rent supplement payment after a proposal was submitted by Safe Ireland.
The current global health pandemic has seen a 30% increase in the amount of domestic violence in some areas.
A proposal was submitted by Safe Ireland to Minister Regina Doherty, calling for a rent supplement to be set up for victims of domestic abuse to allow them to seek alternative accommodation.
According to an Garda Síochána, reports of domestic violence are up by as much as 30% in some areas, and this is thought to be due to isolation during the current crisis.
Sinn Fein TD Violet Anne Wynne has hit out at the Minister’s decision, referring to it as ‘deeply disappointing’
The Kilrush deputy added that the decision fails to recognise the crisis some are going through.
Deputy Wynne has called for the Minister to meet with Safe Ireland and reassess the proposal.
Meanwhile, the Irish Independent reports that the number of legal aid certificates issued for those seeking safety, protection, or barring orders has halved compared to the same period last year.
Killaloe native Caitríona Gleeson from Safe Ireland says that responsibility is being passed from one department to another.
Meanwhile, Deputy Wynne has also re-iterated her apology for recent remarks she made on Facebook.
The Kilrush TD had issued an apology online in the wake of remarks that she made underneath a post on the Clare FM page.
She had said that some commenters were “moaning” and referred to former TDs Pat Breen and Timmy Dooley as “Prat Breen” and “Timmy Do Nothing.”
Subsequently, Ms. Wynne apologised for causing offence and today, in her first public remarks since then, she re-iterated that apology when speaking on Clare FM’s Morning Focus
Brian McLoughlin, Clare FM, first for local news.
