Ms Kate Mitchell:

I thank the Senator for her question. I can confirm that that the National Women's Council is a membership-based organisation. We have almost 200 member organisations from different sectors across the island of Ireland, both North and South. They are representative of different sectors, including migrant organisation, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence organisations, the LGBT+ community and many others. In the development of our policy positions and recommendations, we would absolutely consult our member organisations, and the views, opinions, experience and knowledge of our member organisations would very much be reflected in any policy positions or recommendations that we would produce and submit, including to Oireachtas committees.

On this particular occasion, with regard to our submission on this particular Bill, it would be very standard practice for us to consult different member groups and organisations and different civil society groups outside of our membership, very much acknowledging that our members have particular expertise and knowledge in certain areas. For example, with One Family having expertise with regard to lone parents and Pavee Point in the experiences of Traveller women, we would be very much drawing on that expertise and knowledge and reflecting that in our own positions of the organisation.