The Government was sharply criticised for a lack of action in responding to a two-year-old report on violence against women.

Ms Theresa Ahearn, (FG, Tipperary South) said that the report of the Task Force on Violence Against Women had been on the desk of the Minister of State for Justice, Ms Mary Wallace, for the past two years.

In that time, 15 women had been murdered, 750 cases of rape and sexual assault had been reported, 1,000 calls had been made to Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and, Statewide, 15,000 calls had been made by women who suffered or feared violence - an increase of 6,000 during the Minister's period in office.

However, the Minister outlined the report's recommendations and the actions that the Government had taken to deal with the growing statistics.

Ms Ahearn said that "while crime statistics are decreasing, yet the statistics for rape and sexual assault are increasing". Would the Minister not agree that nothing practical has been done to protect women in this appalling situation?

The report had recommended a Statewide free-phone service for women in fear or who had suffered violence. "Two years later, why is it that you are just planning a phone line, one fundamental that would be of help to women?" Ms Ahearn added.

Ms Wallace said there was a number of phone lines operated by organisations such as the Rape Crisis Centre or Women's Aid. They were spending £100,000 to establish a single phone line where victims would be directed to the various centres.

She said the Government came into office in June 1997 and that by December that year it had established a national steering committee, which was the priority of the report. By May last year that body had established a regional steering committee in each of the eight health boards.

There was now an effective co-ordination taking place in this area. There would be a record £5 million for services, an increase on the previous allocation. "So there is a lot taking place," she said.

Ms Jan O'Sullivan, Labour's equality and law reform spokeswoman, asked when legislation would be in place for legal representation for rape victims.

Ms Wallace said she hoped the legislation would be brought forward this year.

Ms Ahearn asked what proposals the Minister had "that you now think will be effective in stemming the numbers of cases of violence against women"?

Ms Wallace said it was a huge concern. The Department was creating more awareness with an awareness campaign and additional funding had been put in for court accompaniment and counselling.

The biggest difficulty was that between the time a woman reported violence and the court appearance, the woman might not proceed with the case. The Department was conducting very detailed research into this, she said.

The Minister added that society needed to support victims. "Society can no longer say, `It's a family matter, I'm not getting involved'. It's happening on all our streets and all our roads and society has to support victims and not double victimise them."