Minister of State Ms Joan Burton met a number of women from the business and public sectors in Northern Ireland yesterday, before a business forum today organised by Network Ireland and Network UK.
These are organisations for businesswomen, and they are meeting today, International Women's Day, to "find ways and means of working with each other across the Border and the sea".
Meanwhile, in a statement for International Women's, Day, Ms Burton said there should be more senior women gardai to deal with violence against women. She said it was necessary to "look at new strategies for the protection of women.