#FemGen - High profile politicians sign up to NWCI’s manifesto
Published: Friday, January 24, 2020
The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today said that 90 candidates across 35 constituencies have signed up to their Feminist Ireland manifesto, including Ministers Katherine Zappone and Josepha Madigan and party leaders for Fianna Fail Micheal Martin and the Greens’ Eamon Ryan.
Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“This election will set the political agenda for the next five years, and will be crucial in deciding the future direction of this country. With high childcare costs, a third the required number of refuges spaces and a rising rate of women homelessness, it is crucial that general election candidates have these crucial issues on their radar when they are canvassing on doors.”
She continued,
“Women and voters can check which candidates have signed the manifesto, broken down by constituency. We are encouraging our members to use the website to decide who to vote for on February 8. Among the 10 key demands candidates are committing to include public childcare, local access to abortion and legislating for safety zones, ending violence against women and a rent freeze.”
NWCI’s Feminist Ireland Manifesto highlights 10 key areas to bring about much needed change for women in Ireland. By signing up to the manifesto through NWCI’s website (https://www.nwci.ie/general-election-2020), candidates will commit to supporting these policies if elected to Dail Eireann.
NWCI has members and followers in every constituency in Ireland. We will be in close contact with them throughout the election campaign and provide regular updates on the support for our Feminist Ireland manifesto. People will also be able to follow conversations around the General Election from a women’s equality perspective on #FemGen.
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For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Head of Communications, NWCI, Tel. 085 858 9104.
Note to Editors
NWCI’s Feminist Ireland Manifesto
End the Housing and Homelessness Crisis
Implement a national programme of public housing
Introduce an emergency rent freeze
End direct provision
Provide Traveller accommodation.
Prioritise Women’s Health
Deliver Sláintecare
Develop women centred mental health services
Fully resource publicly owned maternity and infant services
Introduce universal, free contraception.
Deliver a Public Childcare Service
Increase investment in affordable, quality, public childcare and paid parental leave
Ensure workers earn at least a living wage
Support lone parents with targeted resources.
Change Ireland’s record on Violence Against Women
Fully implement the Istanbul Convention
Establish domestic homicide reviews
Resource frontline services and refuge spaces.
Ensure safe, legal and local Access to Abortion
Introduce safety zone legislation
Locally provide the full range of abortion services
Guarantee provision of the full range of care in all maternity hospitals.
Eliminate Poverty
Prioritise investment in social protections and public services over tax cuts
Bench mark social welfare payments to the minimum essential standard of living
Introduce a universal pension system.
End the Gender Pay Gap and deliver Decent Work for Women
Introduce a living wage
Legislate for wage transparency
Improve flexible working and move towards a 4-day week
Legislate for collective bargaining rights.
Advance Women’s Leadership
Introduce gender quotas in local elections
Create a woman-friendly Oireachtas
Legislate for a 40% quota for women on corporate boards
Increase funding for the women’s sector.
Lead a Green New Deal
Gender and poverty proof all climate and environment policies
End support for new fossil fuel projects and reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 8% annually
Develop rural and urban public transport infrastructure, including a national cycle network.
Guarantee Access to Justice
Introduce a statutory maintenance agency
Provide full redress to all survivors of institutional abuse
Develop a new family courts model
Introduce legislation and policies to combat racism and discrimination.