Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tógfaidh mé ceisteanna ó Uimh. 20 go dtí Uimh. 26 le céile.

The all-island women's forum, established by the National Women's Council of Ireland in 2021, is a very welcome contribution to the shared island initiative. The forum aims to respond to the under-representation of women and further develop women's role in peacebuilding and civic society. Its work has been funded by the reconciliation fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs. President Michael D. Higgins spoke at a conference of the forum in Enniskillen in February last year, and the then Taoiseach and current Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, participated in the launch of the forum's first report in Dublin in September.

The all-island's women forum is an example of the important role civil society can play in building collaboration and consensus on issues of common concern for people from different communities, traditions and backgrounds. The Government is committed to deepening societal connections across the island, including through the new shared island civic society fund operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The shared island unit attends plenary meetings of the all-island women's forum as an observer, of which there have been two so far this year. Representatives of the National Women's Council of Ireland and the forum have also spoken at a number of events in the shared island dialogue series. We look forward to continuing to interact with the all-island women's forum as it continues its valuable work.

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