Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to go back to apprenticeships. Ms Ní Chaithnía mentioned it was part of the Scottish model. She has seen the indicator the Department was looking at, which was bland. Just 300 females have been involved in apprenticeships but it does not dig into the data regarding how many of them completed apprenticeships, went on to full-time employment, and secured mortgages on the back of that. The indicator is not useful in collecting data but data will be key to the roll-out of this process. Chapter 6 of the NWCI's paper refers to consideration of legislative initiatives. Some countries have enacted legislation that sets requirements for public authorities. Does the organisation favour the introduction of legislation?

Reference was made to the importance of membership-based NGOs in this process and the template used in Scotland as best practice. Will Ms Ní Chaithnía elaborate on that?

I presume the advisory group will play a key role. Ms Ní Chaithnía said that we do not know what impact that will have and what its terms of reference will be. If it was left open to the NWCI, what form should the group take? What teeth and powers should it have? What areas should it examine? Ms Ní Chaithnía said the process would take time to bed down and there is no quick fix in this regard but there is no point in setting up an advisory group if it is not able to give good advice based on evidence. There is a lack of available data according to all the documentation I have read. How can that be addressed?