The head of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has said sexual violence is getting more common, and that pornography is contributing to the problem.

Noeline Blackwell’s comments follow the latest Tusla figures claiming half of all Irish women have experienced sexual harassment.

The report also found one in four have experienced sexual violence.

Ms Blackwell (pictured) said: “Our experienced people have the feeling that violence has become worse; it has become more violent and people are experiencing violence at a younger age.

“If people understand what is acceptable and what’s not – that’s what we can best to to contest pronography, which is an evil and a real harm, particularly for younger people today.”

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Enda Kenny called for a national debate on pornography, saying some young minds are being “tainted and even corrupted” by it.