Ms Steph Hanlon:

That was fantastic and I agree with Ms Crickley. I thank the committee for having us. This is taking important steps to addressing these issues.

With that, there has been a shift just in the last couple of days, with the march and the huge support across civil society, from activist groups and trade unions, and political parties for an island of solidarity. It has really changed the environment a lot of us are in. Many of us are much more hopeful and feeling a lot more positive. There is a saying by Alice Walker that the only way we give up our power is by thinking that we do not have any. Ireland for All, other "for all" groups and a number of the different groups here have highlighted how much power we have in our communities. We might not necessarily like it if that power is used to criticise the Government but if we are on the same side here, as I hope we are, even though the movement is critical of the Government, I hope the Government representatives will welcome the shift, the turnout and the celebration of solidarity and recognise that this has been a huge turning point for us.