To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail how her Department plans to involve apprentices in the work her Department leads in to tackle violence against women and girls.

My Department has supported the establishment of a sector led Tertiary Working Group on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This Group will play a vital role in fostering collaboration across our tertiary institutions, departments and other key stakeholders as we collectively seek to contribute to this priority as set out in the Programme for Government. The first meeting in March focused on establishing a clear Terms of Reference, sharing best practice and identifying key priorities for the Group. I am pleased to note that there is a student representative on this group and that engagement will take place as work progresses with students across all settings including those in further and higher education and those on an apprenticeship programme.