PRESIDENT MARY McAleese yesterday sought to begin a national debate around the "social evil" of domestic violence and called on communities to examine new ways of tackling the problem.
She was speaking at the launch of a national forum on domestic and sexual abuse at Áras an Uachtaráin attended by representatives of State bodies, non-government organisations and abuse victims. It is one of a series of forums which she has organised to help focus attention on social problems such as suicide and alcohol abuse.
Despite much progress in challenging attitudes towards domestic violence and providing greater support to victims, Mrs McAleese said many men, women and children continue to suffer in "awesome loneliness".
She said the effects of domestic violence were profound and cascaded down through the generations.
"It cuts right through the jugular of human development, preventing children from developing and maturing emotionally and psychologically. They destroy trust, demolish hope and they leave a toxic legacy that can poison generation after generation," President McAleese said.
The current generation is better placed to tackle the problem than previous ones as it is not as innocent or as ignorant about the issue, she said.
"The vanities of institutions or of familial relationships are much less likely to prevent us from probing behind the scenes.
"Our laws, social services, law enforcement agencies as well as our non-governmental organisations in this area have all undergone radical transformation in the sophistication of their endeavours over recent decades."
However, services which respond to the problem have often grown up in a piecemeal fashion and with limited resources, she said. Many benefits could come from ensuring all of those involved in dealing with domestic violence have a common focus and work together to enhance the way they respond to victims and perpetrators.
"In truth, we are only at the beginning of comprehending the extent of the problems, the causes and the consequences.
"Add in the growing, though long-standing, problems of drug and alcohol abuse, of broken relationships and the economic tightening we are now facing and we know domestic violence is going to be a reality of life for people, today and tomorrow.
"Here at this forum, we ask what we can do as a civic society, as a community to help further an ongoing national debate around domestic abuse and help turn the tide of this repulsive blight on our land," she said.
Many representatives at the forum yesterday spoke of the need to work more closely together to ensure victims who do come forward are taken seriously and dealt with sensitively.
Ensuring members of the public know how to respond to evidence of domestic abuse also emerged as a key theme, as did the need to educate children and teenagers of the importance of respectful relationships.
"Not doing anything is the worst possible response," said Margaret Costello, a former victim of domestic violence, who now works with HSE's northeast regional planning committee on violence against women. "If no one says anything, we are allowing the violence to continue."
Rosemary Horgan, a family law solicitor, told the forum that the legal system needs to be more sensitive to the needs of victims.
"Above all, it's essential the court's response is appropriate and timely," she said.