Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today we celebrate International Women's Day. I wish mná na hÉireann a very happy International Women's Day. It is an important occasion on which we remember the struggle for women's equality over many decades. While progress has been made, it has to be said that it has been made through the efforts and determination of generations of Irish women in tackling the historic injustices of this State. The legacy of their treatment remains for women in Ireland today. An example is pay inequality. We had only to go outside the door of Leinster House to see the protest in this regard yesterday. There is a scarcity of women in many areas of public life, including politics, leadership, government and academia. There is a lot of work left to do.

The Government has yet to deliver on the commitments it made some five years ago to the survivors of the Magdalen laundries. It is an absolute shame that those survivors are still being forced to wait.

The prevailing legacy of the eighth amendment is a blight on our society and one that the people will soon be given the opportunity to remove. Let us not forget that the 1937 Constitution of this State still asserts that a woman's place is in the home. If one said that to a member of the younger generation, her or she would regard one as absolutely insane and we look forward to removing that clause in a referendum in due course.

The continuing mistreatment of women is not just a prevailing myth; it is very real. It is even more obvious when it comes to the issue of domestic violence. Violence against women and girls remains prevalent in our society. I commend the ongoing work of organisations providing domestic violence supports and services to women and their children throughout this State. Many provide the services in a voluntary capacity. They do incredible work, for which we should all be indebted.

Late last year, Sinn Féin welcomed the decision by the Government to update the sexual assault and violence in Ireland, SAVI, report of 15 years ago. We highlighted shortfalls in policy, including those related to data collection and management within State services, such as An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and Tusla. Are these to be included in the SAVI report?

I urge the Tánaiste to take heed of what Ms Orla O'Connor from the National Women's Council said this morning. She called for the promised review on domestic homicide to be completed. In 2016, the then Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald, gave a commitment that this would be published in February 2017. It is now March 2018.

See this speech in context