Ms Caroline O'Loughlin:

We have had an equality budgeting expert advisory in place since 2018. The job of that group is to ensure that equality budgeting is being progressed in the same way. We draw on best practice from stakeholders. It is a very broad group. The Departments of Finance and Social Protection and the Chief State Solicitor's office are key. We also have stakeholders such as the National Women's Council of Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the National Disability Authority, the National Economic and Social Council and the Economic and Social Research Institute. We have academics on that group as well.

Representatives from the Department of Finance are key members of the group. They have their switch model every year. Last year they released a paper on budget day. I cannot remember the exact title of the paper but it was to do with equality budgeting impacts on tax measures. Therefore, we work with all colleagues to try to capture different dimensions of it. Certainly, that group is a key driver in the work plan for how equality budgeting will be progressed over the next few years. As I said, the paper the Department of Finance published last year will certainly guide that work.