Labour Party candidate Michael D Higgins has today told a presidential debate that financial cutbacks should not impact of the safety of women and children.
Mr Higgins was addressing a Safe Ireland event hosted by RTÉ presenter Miriam O'Callaghan in Dublin this morning.
"Indeed there will be talks of cuts and austerity. What do you say? Well you say there's no cut should ever impact in such as way as makes your citizenship in safety impossible."
Mr Higgins said if elected president he would ensure that international day for the elimination of violence against women, November 25th, would be marked by an annual audit of progress.
Independent candidate Sean Gallagher said he believed alcohol was often a factor in violence against women and children. He said "psychological downgrading and emotional abuse" was also a problem. "It needs to be part of our national dialogue," Mr Gallagher added.
Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said that whether or not he was elected president he would do all he could to assist the work of Safe Ireland. "There is no such thing as acceptable violence or bullying," Mr Mitchell said.
Independent candidate Mary Davis said statistics revealing the extent of violence against women and children were frightening. She told Safe Ireland she would "wholeheartedly embrace" the campaign as president.
Apologies were received from the other candidates. Safe Ireland director Sharon O'Halloran said she hoped the event would bring visibility and hope to such a serious issue. She said services were at "tipping point" and the issue needed to be taken seriously by all politicians.
