Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Women and Constitutional Change: Discussion (Resumed)

9:30 am

Ms Emma DeSouza:

There needs to be adequate, specific and ring-fenced funding for women that is going to stay within the sector. There were previous questions on frameworks and structures. I believe something needs to be created that is going to be big and independent enough to hear all of those voices. There needs to be a joint commitment from the Governments on how to take an all-island approach to specifically address some of the issues impacting women, specifically around violence and health. We have not seen the level of co-operation that is needed up to this point. For me, it would have to be around creating a structure. It needs to be something new and we need to look at how to choose the language around the structure so we get people to really participate in it.