A local senator has said that Ireland is "no country for women" amid rising gender-based violence.
Cavan Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised the issue in the Seanad yesterday.
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator O'Reilly highlighted a number of cases of gender-based violence, including the case of 23-year-old Kelly Lynch.
She called for "proper training" for Gardaí on dealing with domestic violence.
According to the Senator, interaction with a Garda could be the difference between life and death.
She said that domestic violence is an epidemic.
Senator O'Reilly said: "If we take a look at the headlines and stories over the past week, it is clear that this is no country for women. Gender-based violence is rising, and since 2020 there have been 65 women violently murdered across this country.
"When are we going to say enough is enough? We need proper training for gardaí on how to spot and deal with domestic violence. Interaction with a garda could be the difference between life and death for a woman suffering abuse at the hands of her partner.
"There also needs to be an increase in mandatory minimum sentencing for serious cases of assault as well as a focus on early intervention.
"As parents, we need to speak to our sons. The incidence of domestic violence is now an epidemic. If this problem goes unaddressed then we risk the lives of more and more women," Senator O'Reilly added.
