Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is fitting that International Women's Day takes place in springtime, which is the season that represents the spirit of renewal, hope and change, a time when darkness gives way to light and we can all see that bit better how far women have come and how far we have yet to travel. Generations of Irish women - courageous changemakers - struggled to transform the future for all of us to ensure their daughters are uplifted and have the opportunities denied to them. Much progress has been made but we still have a road to walk.

Today, we think of and send solidarity to every woman who works minor miracles every day to ensure the bills are paid, the children are fed and her family makes it to the end of the week, every woman denied a home who courageously shields her child in emergency accommodation, and every sister who, inspired by the powerful humanity of the women of the CervicalCheck scandal, fights for the dignity of proper healthcare. We send solidarity to every woman of honour. We stand with women and carers who heroically battle the system for disability services, mental health interventions or vital life-changing surgeries for their children. We sound the clarion call of change for every woman struggling to pay the rent and who stands in the rain at the bus stop every morning to go to a job where she is underpaid. We sound it, too, for women for whom home is the most dangerous place and who endure violence, coercive control and abuse. We sound it for the women of Ireland still denied the right to safety everywhere, at any time of the day or night. We also, of course, celebrate the many incredible achievements of Ireland's amazing women, among them those who light up the worlds of business, sports, arts, literature and activism. We celebrate the women who dream big dreams and get the job done.

On Friday, we are presented with the opportunity to remove from the Constitution a sexist decree that women belong in the home. However, real change must see carers and the incredible, compassionate work they do fully recognised and supported. It must ensure those who need care receive full services and therapies and those with disabilities lead lives as equal citizens. Whatever happens on Friday, it must be followed by concrete changes for families and carers. There must be improvements in their lives they can feel and experience every day, not lip service and mere rhetoric.

Irish women have together achieved notable progress in the areas of personal, social and economic rights. We are a long way now from de Valera's crossroads but we still have some distance to travel if we are to reach full equality. In amanna, is cosúil go bhfuil iomaí baic le sárú ag mná hÉireann ach tá mná na hÉireann ag sárú na mbac sin ar feadh na nglúnta. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuilimid ar ár gcumas is láidre agus is cumhachtaí nuair a sheasaimid le chéile agus dá chéile. In 2024, women in Ireland still face real barriers. Disparity in opportunity, the glass ceiling and the gender pay gap are long-standing inequalities we must overcome. Of course, equality is a choice made by those whose who sit at the decision-making table. Historically, in Ireland, there have not been enough women at the table. We must change that.

As we stand here today, there are women of all political colours throughout the State preparing to take part in the forthcoming local elections, the European election and, at some stage, the general election. These candidates, whether they win a seat or not, are part of a generation of women determined to shape the future.

Our job, women together, is to create change in the here and now, to be inspired by the strength, talent, fortitude and unfettered ambition of the women who went before us and to walk our length of the journey with determination and positivity regarding what we can achieve. This generation of women has a responsibility to continue our fight for equality, not only for ourselves but also for our daughters, granddaughters, sons and grandsons. That is the goal, now and always.

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