Gardaí need specialist training to deal with domestic and sexual violence, a conference heard today.
The forum in Kilkenny marks a 16-day international campaign opposing violence against women.
Addressing the event, Green Party deputy leader Mary White TD said: "The absence of . . . specialist training for gardaí in the areas of domestic and sexual violence must be addressed. The rise in the number of reported rapes has been met with a worrying drop in detection rates."
Ms White urged the Government and the Ministers for Justice and Health to provide "the promised resources", such as a team trained in domestic violence for every Garda region.
I would also like to see dedicated law centres in towns such as Carlow, which currently shares its services with Kilkenny, to provide free legal aid in support of victims of these crimes. We must resource our local services, if we are to move forward on this issue," she added.
Speakers at today's event included representatives from the Kilkenny/Carlow Rape Crisis Centre and the Kilkenny Women's Refuge.
Local women also took part in a question-and-answer session on domestic and sexual violence in the home.