Acting CEO Orla O’Connor’s speech at President Michael D. Higgins visit on International Women’s Day

Published: Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Thank you President Higgins for your truly inspirational words, and thank for opening this new premises which we hope will provide a new and important space for women's organisations to come and meet, reflect and organise.

Thank you also for celebrating International Women's Day with us.

International Women's Day is a time for celebration of what women have achieved and you have shared these struggles and achievements with women in Ireland and globally throughout the decades. Irish society has changed as a result of these of struggles - women's contribution to all aspects of Irish society has changed the picture of Ireland. There has been a mass movement of women into paid employment, and also into 3rd level education; and women are now achieving successful careers.

In Ireland as in other developed countries, there has been a steady reduction in maternal deaths and infant mortality; and women are living longer. Violence against women, including sexual violence and domestic violence, is now widely recognized as a serious political issue.

The introduction of equal pay, of improvements in maternity leave and of parental leave, pre-school childcare have been key milestones in developing women's economic and employment rights in Ireland.

However patriarchal structures continue to underpin Irish society and as a result produce unequal outcomes between women and men in Ireland
In addition Women, are at the coalface of this economic crisis, they are struggling to make ends meet, to stretch the budgets in families , to meet family debts and household bills. If they are working -many face the challenges of trying to survive and raise families on very low pay alongside precarious and vulnerable working conditions. Women are dealing once again with the sadness and loss of forced emmigration and women are also experiencing an increase in violence against them and their children in their homes. Women are still not represented in the senior decision making levels of our society.

From the President the people seek a reflection of their highest values and aspirations. President Higgins, we take pride in, value and admire your clear recognition, understanding and willingness to take action on the issues facing women throughout your career as an activist, politician and now as President of Ireland.
I want to particularly thank you for your words of support to the NWCI organisation, and our role in representing and supporting women's organisations, these words are very encouraging at a time when the needs of organisations supporting women all over the country are growing rapidly as we all attempt to meet challenges in these difficult times.

Your words today also give a vital message of hope and inspiration for the type of society that we want to create in Ireland and how essential it is that women, in all our diversity, our voices, hopes and dreams are a part of that creation. There is such an opportunity facing us now, to build a society where the values of feminism are core and shape the structures of society, where women's full equality is realised, and women and men have full freedom to make choices over all aspects of their lives, where women's human rights are recognised and enabled and where women and men share care and care relationships are part of the fabric of society.

The National Women's Council of Ireland will support you President Higgins, throughout your term of office to realise that vision to build an Ireland where women and women's aspirations are at the centre.

We thank you again President Higgins and Mrs Higgins for your inspirational words and presence here today.