Minister for Justice Helen McEntee:
"The goal and guiding mission of this strategy is clear: Zero Tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
"Zero Tolerance means realising that we have allowed gender based violence and abuse, and the attitudes and assumptions which underpin it, inflict misery on too many for too long, but know now that radical change is required.
"It means that, shaken by too many dark moments, we determine together that the issue of gender based violence should no longer be treated as a lesser form of abuse.
"As something that we knew existed but turned away from; offering ourselves the excuse that private suffering was not a public responsibility.
"As something that we closed our eyes and ears to, ignoring signs of everyday pain.
"I believe this strategy is the firmest demonstration yet of Ireland’s determination to change.
"The pillars on which it is built – Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – recognise that is only through a society wide effort we will achieve real change.
"And the actions through which the strategy will be implemented reflect the shared determination across Government, State agencies, NGOs, voluntary organisations and society as whole to work together to that end.
"They are ambitious, detailed and, when implemented, will contribute to changed attitudes, increased awareness, greater care for victims, more refuge spaces and effective punishment for perpetrators.
"The plan outlines reforms to be implemented over the next 5 years. Detailed timelines are in place for the actions which will be achieved in the first year and half of the strategy, and annual action plans will follow every year for the remainder of the strategy’s lifetime.
"Clear oversight structures will ensure that what is promised is delivered.
"And the new, standalone State agency with responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender based violence, to be established by January 1, 2024, will be central to achieving our goal of Zero Tolerance.
"I want to thank my officials and all those working in the NGO sector who co-designed this strategy in partnership with us.
"Their decades of experience in working with victims and advocating for change were invaluable, and will be crucial to achieving the goals we set ourselves in this document.
"We must be honest with ourselves.
"As I have said before, we cannot tell ourselves that no one will suffer at the hands of a partner ever again.
"But we can and must do everything in our power to bring about change and achieve Zero Tolerance.
"I believe this plan is our most ambitious step to date in reaching that goal."