Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth says International Women’s Day is a reminder of how far women have come and how much more is needed to address gender inequality challenges.
Speaking ahead of a Fianna Fáil event in Cork to mark International Women’s Day, Deputy Smyth commented, “International Women’s Day gives us time to pause and assess what more needs to be done to address gender inequality and implement changes to allow women and girls to succeed and feel supported by their State.
“As legislators we have a responsibility to ensure that laws enacted support women and girls in everyday life. In the workplace women, on average, earn 25%-40% less than men who do the same job. In politics globally women make up just 23% of people in national parliaments worldwide, while in Dáil Éireann only 22.5% of parliamentarians are women.
“In my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan we have no refuge to support women leaving situations of domestic violence. A large part of the border region should not be without such a vital service.
“As legislators the onus is on us to bring in legislation which will directly support women, such as the Fianna Fáil Shared Maternity Leave and Benefit Bill introduced and supported in the Dáil by my Party.
“As my Fianna Fáil colleagues and I gather for our Fianna Fáil Women’s Day Lunch in Cork we will celebrate the progress and debate the next steps in implementing progressive policies to empower women,” concluded Deputy Smyth.
