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

Tugann Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan deis dúinn go léir machnamh a dhéanamh ar an am atá caite agus tabhairt faoin todhchaí go cróga. Déanann muid ceiliúradh ar na glúnta máithreacha, iníonacha agus deirfiúracha ar diúltaíodh fios a bheith acu agus a tháinig timpeall ar dhúshlán doshéanta le misneach an t-athrú a chur i gcrích. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach bainte amach ag mná ag obair le chéile, ach tá rás fada fós le rith.

We speak up for women who face incredible challenges and injustice but move mountains to keep the show on the road and protect those they love, for mothers forced into homelessness and raising their children in emergency accommodation, for carers whose heroic work goes unrecognised by Government and for those women whose children have special needs and face a daily battle to access essential services and school places.

The symptoms of inequality are still with us in Ireland today. As women, we face discrimination when it comes to opportunity, the gender pay gap and glass ceilings. Women have blazed a trail, achieved and risen to the top in many areas: business, politics, the arts, sports, broadcasting and entertainment. While celebrating these successes, I am reminded of how Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels. When women achieve and rise to the top, we must clear far more obstacles for others to follow.

The inequality we face today finds its most devastating form in the epidemic of violence against women. The number of emergency calls to gardaí reporting domestic abuse rose from over 44,000 in 2020 to over 65,000 last year. Since 1996, 267 women have died violently, 63% of whom were killed in their own home. The physical and sexual violence inflicted on women is horrific, as are coercive control, emotional abuse, economic control and the rise in revenge porn. It is a damning failure of Government that nine counties remain without a refuge for women fleeing violence. That must be put right urgently. We need an all-of-government response that changes the story, that challenges and changes the misogynistic culture that sees women and girls abused, intimidated, living in fear and, in too many cases, their lives brutally taken.

Is cinneadh é cothrom na Féinne. Ní bheidh comhionannas ag mná go dtí go bhfuil níos mó ban ag an mbord. We need more women in the Oireachtas and sitting in government. As the first women to lead the Opposition in the Dáil, I am pleased my party, Sinn Féin, is just about reaching the 40% threshold in our team of TDs. I have to reflect our disappointment that of the 15-person Cabinet, only three are women. That was a step backwards. If things are ever going to change, the message must be a women's place is here in Leinster House and real and consistent action must follow that message.

We fight the battles of today in the hope our daughters will not have to fight them tomorrow. Our goal remains equality for all women and girls. That is the Ireland and the world I want for my daughter. I want it for my son also. The women of Ireland keep our eyes on the horizon and our shoulders to the wheel and will stand together until that day of full equality is finally achieved.

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