Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to discuss the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on women and to reflect on where women are in Irish society today as we celebrate women on International Women’s Day on 8 March. In the 100 years since women won the right to vote, there have been millions upon millions of stories of strong women forging the way ahead, fighting for equality. Wives, daughters, aunts, mothers, grandmothers and sisters are still fighting because, in Ireland today, women are not equal. They are called “love”, “darling” and “sweetheart” and often talked over, talked down to and sometimes taken for fools. This inequality is reflected across society.

Celebrating International Women’s Day on Monday should serve as a reminder of how far we have actually not come and the mountains we still have to climb. We look at the Mother and Baby Homes Commission report, we look at the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on illegal adoptions, and we see that women were treated terribly in the recent past. As long as we try to silence them, we continue to treat them horribly. It was vital that the records from the commission were protected so we can build on the opportunity to give access to survivors. As we celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March and Mother’s Day on 14 March, we must recognise women are half the population and, without them, we would not be here.

According to catalyst.org, globally, in 2020, less than half of all women participated in the labour force and women represented 38.8% of all participants in the labour force. The National Women’s Council of Ireland states that women continue to be more likely to work on a part-time basis and almost 70% of all part-time workers are women. Covid-19 made all that much more challenging. The majority of healthcare workers are women, and women in Ireland continue to provide the vast majority of care for children, elderly relatives and those living with disabilities.

Men do a lot, but women do the most. According to the Central Statistics Office, women accounted for 94% of those looking after the home or family in 2019. During this pandemic, women took sick leave or annual leave or offered up their job to care for children due to school closures and childcare facilities being closed. These women had the extra responsibility of home schooling while the women who still held onto their jobs and worked from home had to home school while also managing work commitments. Healthcare workers suffered more than most, facing the front line and holding things together at home. They were, and are, broken and they deserve more than a clap for their efforts. Women in every home in Ireland carry the burden of Covid-19 more than anyone else. They get no grants for that. There is no fund for their stability. They continue to be disproportionately affected by the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

From mental health and well-being to economic disparity and domestic violence, women are suffering. Now is the time to provide a women’s refuge in every county in Ireland. I know this is the responsibility of various Ministers, but it is important to raise it. I have been asking for a women's refuge for Carlow for the last few years, but given the current statistics there should be a refuge in every county. Early evidence is showing signs that women, children, migrants and refugees, persons with disabilities and the elderly have been hit hardest by the pandemic. This is compounded by a widespread increase in domestic violence. There were and continue to be issues for those experiencing domestic violence arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. In Carlow and Kilkenny there has been an increase in reported incidents. The increase in domestic violence incidence in the past year is not exclusive to my constituency, as more than 3,000 extra incidents have been reported during the pandemic.

It is important that supports are made available across the board. I am aware an audit is being undertaken to review the overall responsibility and co-ordination for domestic violence services in this country compared with other jurisdictions. This is most welcome. According to the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, "In the absence of targeted measures and investments by governments, we will see major rollbacks in gender equality and profound challenges for women workers in a post– COVID–19 world”. Those measures are needed in this country.

Women are significantly outnumbered by men in both local and national politics in Ireland. If women are not at the table; they cannot voice female concerns and inform female-friendly policies. I applaud the brave Irish women who take a stand to represent people. I encourage more of them to walk these halls, speak loudly and clearly, represent women and men, old and young, fight injustice, root out inequality and be taken seriously. We should not have to create a female-friendly society in which women can run for office. A woman should be able to run for office because she would be good at the job. Cultural barriers must be addressed through the education system, civic education programmes and voter education initiatives.

A review of fathers' rights and paternity leave should also be undertaken to ensure that children will not always be seen as an issue only for mothers. We must look at ways to support family time and a better work-life balance. We must support the most vulnerable to live their best lives.

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