Dr. Salome Mbugua:

I smiled when I heard that because the HSE has been our major key supporter since we started our work with female genital mutilation, FGM. Everybody pushed us when we spoke about FGM to the HSE because it was supporting us financially. It is open to listening, even in the case of ethnic identifiers. We have spoken many times, we ask for meetings and we meet the person who is linked to our organisation. The HSE has been providing us with support and we have been looking for more support because we have seen the increase in the number of people coming into Ireland. However, we are also a national network that works all over the country. We have just started a peer-led support project. We recommend that this is replicated around the country so that it is everywhere, not only in Dublin. As the organisation works with migrants and meets people, there is co-ordination so that things do not happen only in Dublin. Groups and organisations working around the country are able to share learning and experiences while at the same time structuring this project. Resources are important because they would help us to reach more people. I agree that everything should not be left to the social inclusion unit or the HSE in particular. It is important to have the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Education and other Departments, including employment co-ordinated in such a way that we can support people in a meaningful way. The HSE is already doing its work and needs to be complemented by all these other services.