Women for a YES vote

Posted on May 23, 2012

This morning Senator Susan O'Keeffe organised a cross-party, cross civil society, women's' initiative to call for a Yes vote in the forthcoming Stability Treaty referendum.

"Women work well together and recognise the value of cooperation. Ireland has been a strong member of the European Union and by pulling together, we can restore stability to the euro and to the community and continue the effort to create jobs and attract investment," Senator O'Keeffe said.

The event was held in the Mansion House and attended by women from all parties and from all sections of society.

Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Foreign & European Affairs • Stability Treaty • Labour Women

Labour Women launch Stability Treaty Yes campaign

Posted on May 14, 2012

This morning Labour Women launched their Stability Treaty Yes campaign attended by the Labour Deputy Leader Joan Burton, MEPs Emer Costello, Phil Prendergast and Nessa Childers as well as other members of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Minister Burton spoke of how there is a 'big advantage' of staying the course in Europe.

"Ireland is not alone in its current troubles. Bank debts and unemployment haunt many European economies. There is a lot more to be done to help beleaguered countries. I believe we are far better off making the case along with like-minded Governments inside the European tent than being a lone voice outside.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Foreign & European Affairs • Stability Treaty • EmerCostello • NessaChilders • PhilPrendergast • Labour Women •

Happy International Women's Day

Posted on March 08, 2010

Joan Burton TD, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Katherine Dunne, Labour Women Chair presenting Mahin Sevidvash of UNIFEM with a cheque.

Labour Deputy Leader Joan Burton TD along with Labour Women marked International Womens' Day by donating to a UNIFEM project which builds shelters for women fleeing violence in Haiti.

Katherine Dunne, Labour Women Chair said, "Women are second-class citizens in Haiti. The minimum legal age for marriage is 15 years for women. Rape was only made a criminal offence in Haiti in 2005. Like domestic violence, women associate rape with shame. There are little protections for girls and women.

"In Haiti, women come last. After the earthquake the situation is even worse with shelters gone, family protection gone and schools gone. With this donation Labour Women want to help and also highlight the dreadful situation with violence against women in Haiti.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Joan Burton • Labour Women

Cutbacks, representation, violence against women and more discussed at Labour Womens' Conference

Posted on October 19, 2009

The Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD and outgoing chairperson of Labour Women, Sinead Ni Chulachain.

Over the weekend the Labour Womens' National Conference gathered in the Oak Room of the Mansion House in Dublin, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Emer Costello, who opened the conference.

In her welcoming speech the Councillor Costello said: "There have been 370 Lord Mayors in Dublin City, but of those only 7 have been women." In fact the fourth woman to hold the position Cllr Mary Freehill was also present at the conference.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Labour Women

Happy International Womens Day

Posted on March 07, 2008

International Womens' Day (tomorrow, Saturday, March 8th) marks the day when women around the world take stock. How are women doing? Have we made any progress?

When the Irish women are asked if they are making any progress in the world of politics, they don't have to think very hard : they have not.

Since the General Election 2007 the number of women TDs has remained static. We are stuck at 13 per cent women TDs. Women's under-representation matters.

Better and more balanced policies, women's perspective and life experience, skills and ideas all make politics more inclusive and better informed. Politics needs more women.

Unusually in Irish politics Labour has actively supported women. Therefore it is not a surprise that we have been rewarded with some mighty women.

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Permanent link | Comments | Categories: Labour Women

Why women should vote Labour

Posted on April 16, 2007

Deputy Joan Burton and Sinead Ni Chulachain, chair of Labour Women at the launch of Why Women Should Vote Labour.

"In a Labour government, childcare and education will be at the top of the political agenda. That's one good reason why women should vote Labour", Joan Burton said at the launch of Labour Women's 'Why women should vote Labour'.

Of any political party, the Labour Party has the absolute highest number of women among its parliamentary representatives. Out of a total of 21 Labour TD's, 7 are women and out of a total of 5 Labour Senators, 2 are women.

The emphasis in the forthcoming Labour Party General Election manifesto on issues like childcare, education and violence against women clearly shows the influence of women within our Parliamentary Party in putting the issues that matter most to women at the top of our political agenda.

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Permanent link | Categories: Equality • Elections • Policy • Labour Women