THE first meeting of the Government's working group on violence against women is to be held on Tuesday with the Minister of State at the Office of the Tanaiste, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, in the chair.

Ms Fitzgerald will detail the terms of reference of the group, which has been established to devise and report on a new strategy to deal with the problem of violence against women.

Membership will include representatives of the Garda, health boards and government departments as well as individuals from outside the public sector who have particular expertise in the area.