I welcome the opportunity to mark International Women's Day. The aim and theme this year of Give to Gain was really strong. The point was collaboration and collective action to drive opportunities for women and girls. When women drive, everyone thrives. As an active trade unionist for all of my working life, I see the link between the struggle for women’s rights and workers' rights. When we improve pay and conditions for women, everybody benefits. Families and communities benefit when women get fair pay and better working conditions. I have been lucky to engage with and support many women's groups in my constituency of Fingal East. One group I want to acknowledge is the Swords Women's Shed. Its mission is simple. It is to unite and empower women within the community through creative craft and socialisation. The women's shed was set up in 2022 by two inspirational local women, Glenda and Pamela, in response to the isolation and loss women were going through during Covid. They have been central to organising social, creative, health-led events and so much more, including friendship for other women. I was privileged to attend and address their International Women's Day event. It was brilliant. It was a great event, full of energy and solidarity. The group has grown year on year. I urge the Minister of State to ensure funding is made available to the Swords Women's Shed, like the men's shed, so they can have their own premises and fulfil their potential. The sharing of non-consensual photos or recordings of intimate images is wrong and is criminalised under legislation. The use of AI to generate non-consensual images is also wrong but unfortunately is not criminalised. In February Sinn Féin introduced an amendment to the harmful communications Act. This amendment will ensure that AI-generated sexualised and abusive images would be outlawed. Government needs to act on this to ensure the amendment is enacted as soon as possible. I also highlight the challenges for women who want to access help with addiction. Women use drugs and alcohol for different reasons to men and their journey is different to the journey that men go through. Women face different challenges and obstacles. Unfortunately, drug treatment and rehabilitation services are designed by men for men. It is great to have an international women's day but not once a year. We should be looking after women every day. Resources need to be put in place to support the community and voluntary groups along with our SNAs, carers and disabled women. The list goes on and on. We need to allow them to reach their full potential.

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