Ms Kate Mitchell:

I thank the Senator and the Deputy for their important questions. I want to come back to a point Deputy Smith made on the all-island solutions. Earlier, Ms O'Connor alluded to the all-island violence against women, VAW, group that we have been leading and the report that will be published next month. That provides solid and robust recommendations for how we address violence against women and intimate-partner violence in particular across the country, on an all-island basis. We know that huge commonalities exist in women facing huge challenges in accessing the court system and their experience of it and the lack of a survivor-centred approach. There are challenges in accessing a range of services and supports, including refuge support, long-term housing, healthcare and social protection. We have made very clear recommendations on the need to clarify access to those services and how victims and survivors use the Border and how it also complicates their access to support where and when they need it. We need to look at how we can enhance our justice and court systems. We also need to ensure that we have secure, multi-annual funding arrangements in place. Furthermore, it is critical to consider how we continue this important work and build on and develop robust research and data collection strategies. We need to continue to identify how we resolve these issues on an all-island basis.