Happy International Women's Day

Posted on March 08, 2012 at 10:26 AM

Today marks a day where the achievements of women across the globe are celebrated. While inequalities still persist, many positive developments are happening.

The Labour Party is proud to play its part in making these changes happen. As a long-time champion of women's rights and advocate for increased female political representation, the Tánaiste put our Party's ethos into action by choosing all female politicians in his nominations to the Seanad. Combined with our eight female TD's and our three female MEPs, women now represent one third of our parliamentary party.

Currently, Labour Women are actively targeting as many female party members as possible to run in the forthcoming local elections. Mentoring schemes and workshops have been put in place to offer crucial support and guidance to women contemplating entering politics.

Good politics needs woman, and we were proud to pass the Electoral Political Funding Bill, which makes all political parties have at least 30 per cent of female candidates in the next general election - or face financial penalties. This crucial legislation will offer a key impetus to all parties to encourage women to enter politics.

Thankfully women are playing a more prominent role in Irish society, particularly in the legal field with the appointments of Attorney General, Maire Whelan, Chief Justice, Susan Gageby Denham, and Director of Public Prosecutions, Claire Loftus. From the legal field to the boxing ring - women everywhere are coming out in force to make their voices heard. The Labour Party remains committed to working with women to ensure that no hurdle stands in the way of any woman from reaching her full potential.

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