The Impact of Budget 2012 on Women of Donegal Women of the North West Respond

Published: Sunday, December 04, 2011

On Monday December 12th women from throughout Ireland will meet in Letterkenny to discuss the outcome and potential impact of Budget 2012 on women in Ireland. The meeting being hosted by the National Women's Council of Ireland, The National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks - Donegal Women's Network and the Women into Public Life project will provide a space for women to analyse the Budget and discuss the impact of cuts on women, families and communities throughout Ireland.

" The European Union has called on the Irish Government to take into account the impact on women of all steps being taken to bring about economic recovery", said Orla O'Connor of the NWCI. "The United Nations has called on the Irish Government to take steps to ensure that the economic downturn does not lead to the undermining of human rights. Women are being affected by the economic downturn in ways that are often ignored. They have been virtually invisible in discussion, debate and decision making in relation to the social and economic crisis. This meeting will explore the extent to which women's rights and human rights in Ireland have been affected by the decisions made in Budget 2012", she added.

The meeting will be chaired by Susan Mc Kay, CEO of the NWCI and key speakers will be Orla O'Connor, Head of Policy at the NWCI and Ethel Buckley Head of Campaigning and Equality at SIPTU. The meeting will include an interactive session facilitated by the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks - Limerick Women's Network and Clare Women's Network. It will be followed by the Donegal launch of the Charter for Women's Equality (an initiative of the NWCI and the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks) by Joe Mc Hugh TD.

The event is open to members of the NWCI and non-members interested in the issues being discussed. For further information contact the NWCI on 01 8787248.