Labour Women Blog
Report from International Officer
Posted on October 29, 2013
Greetings to all Labour Women members, supporters and occasional dippers-into our world. I've been the Labour Women International Representative for the last 4 years; this normally involves attending meetings of the Party of European Socialist Women (PESW) every quarter, usually in Brussels. However, when Ireland held the Presidency of EU earlier on in the year, we in LW (Labour Women) hosted about 25 PES Women colleagues from all over Europe over three days.
This was our contribution to the Presidency and was a great success on a political, networking and social level (despite the truly awful weather). Earlier this month I travelled to Brussels for a PESW meeting and I’d like to share a few jottings from that trip.
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Budget 2014
Posted on October 16, 2013
Although the season of kite flying and rumour that traditionally heralds Budget day was notably shorter this year, the days before the budget remained an anxious time for many vulnerable groups in Irish society. What emerged when Minster’s Howlin and Noonan took to their feet today to deliver their Budget speeches was something of a mixed bag for women and families in Ireland and Labour Women will be taking time to analyse the measures in detail over the coming days.
Labour Women welcomes the maintenance of current levels of child benefit payments. Labour Women strongly support the universal nature of child benefit and lobbied for it to be protected as such when we made our pre-budget submission to the Parliamentary Labour Party before the summer break.
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Labour Women Bootcamp, Portlaoise
Posted on October 07, 2013
This weekend 25 dynamic and impressive women gathered in Portlaoise for the first Labour Women pre election “Bootcamp” for local election candidates.
For many, the word ‘Bootcamp’ conjured images of muddied, exhausted candidates hopping gates and evading barking dogs in an effort to safely deliver election literature to the doors of voters. Thankfully there was very little mud and plenty of opportunities for candidates from up and down the country to plan their local election campaigns and discuss the challenges of the next seven months.
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Women have a wealth of experience and wisdom to bring to politics - O'Sullivan
Posted on August 29, 2013
Why isn't politics attracting more women and what practical steps can be taken to get more women involved were two areas discussed by Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan at the recent McCluskey Summer School.
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Constitutional Convention and women
Posted on January 31, 2013
The Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore first proposed the Constitutional Convention as part of Labour's reform agenda. The Government established the Constitutional Convention in 2012 and this month the constitutional convention met for the second time.
Labour Women have campaigned for a number of years to see changes to the constitution in order to secure greater equality for women. In the coming months the constitution will address the constitutional reference to women as home makers and also women's participation in politics.
The Convention met for the first time in December 2012 to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution. The Convention has 100 members: a chairman; 29 members of the Oireachtas (parliament); 4 representatives of Northern Ireland political parties; and 66 randomly selected citizens of Ireland.
The Convention is mandated to consider eight specified issues, and may initiate more proposals if time permits. The specific issues are : 1.reducing the Presidential term of office to five years and aligning it with the local and European elections; 2.reducing the voting age to 17; 3.review of the Dáil electoral system; 4.giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections at Irish embassies, or otherwise; 5.provision for same-sex marriage; 6.amending the clause on the role of women in the home and encouraging greater participation of women in public life; 7.increasing the participation of women in politics; 8.removal of the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.
It met for the first time in December 2012 to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland. The Convention has 100 members: a chairman; 29 members of the Oireachtas (parliament); 4 representatives of Northern Ireland political parties; and 66 randomly selected citizens of Ireland.
Any citizen can make submissions to the convention and you can get more information from this link.
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Labour Women celebrate 100 years of women in the Labour Party
Posted on November 21, 2012
Labour Women, the women's section of the Labour Party, was founded in 1971. Since then Labour Women has worked to advance women in the Labour Party and women's political participation in Irish politics. This year as we celebrate 100 years of the Labour Party we also take time to celebrate the many women who have been part of that journey and the women who have built the Labour party into what it is today.
Today we celebrate these women who believed that men and women should and can be truly equal. We celebrate the women who have refused to be content with the status quo and who have instead pushed the boundaries and achieved real change in women's lives. We celebrate the women who dedicated their lives to ensuring that women's voices are heard at all levels of Irish politics and in all aspects of society. We celebrate the women of the Labour party who advanced the cause of feminism in Ireland over the 100 years of Labour party history. We celebrate these women, who have come from all walks of life to join the Labour movement because they share the passion for a just society where everyone can flourish. We remember the many challenges they faced and their many triumphs.
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LW celebrates 100 years of women in the Labour Party
Posted on November 14, 2012
Labour Women celebrates Generations of Labour Women in the Centenary Year of the Labour Party.
'This year as we celebrate100 years of the Labour Party we also take time to celebrate the many women who have been part of that journey and the women who have built the Labour Party into what it is today' said Sinead Ahern LW Chair. 'We celebrate the women who have refused to be content with the status quo and who have instead pushed the boundaries and achieved real change in women's lives. We celebrate the women who dedicated their lives to ensuring that women's voices are heard at all levels of Irish politics and in all aspects of society.
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Children should be seen and heard - Vote Yes for children
Posted on October 18, 2012
The Thirty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012 is supported by Labour Women.
'This referendum is very much part of an entire reform around how we protect our children. It is about a cultural change where many aspects such as setting up the Department for Children and Youth Affairs, this referendum and the resources we use to protect and support children are part of that cultural change', said Sinead Ahern LW Chair at a LW Children's Rights Briefing Event.
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Labour Women meet in Limerick
Posted on September 17, 2012
Minister Jan O'Sullivan TD opened the Regional Meeting.
Minister Jan O'Sullivan TD and Sinead Ahern LW Chair in Limerick
'I started in politics as a regular member, motivated by issues I was interested in. I have always been a passionate believer in the importance of having women in politics. I welcome the legislation which will see political parties run more women', she said. She spoke about her work in Government and reiterated Labour's commitment to the principle of fairness and equality.
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LW mark Suicide Prevention Day
Posted on September 10, 2012
Labour Women joined the Irish Countrywomen's Association to mark the Suicide Prevention Day in An Grianan, Terminfackin, Co Louth. Suicide Or Survive (SOS) organisation conducted a mental health talk followed by discussions in groups.
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