Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, we need to acknowledge that we still live in a very unequal society. There is lots to be done to deliver true equality for women in Ireland. From Cabinet to boards, women are still underrepresented in positions of power. This needs to change. In particular, we need to address the inequality faced by women from minority and disadvantaged communities such as Traveller, disabled, migrant, black, lesbian, trans and older women and those from other disadvantaged backgrounds.

I wish to mention health-related issues. There is still inadequate provision of research on women's health beyond maternity and reproductive health. We get emails to our office about frustration with the healthcare system and women's access to healthcare and, as mentioned earlier, in particular around endometriosis. It is welcome that a Government framework is in place but more needs to be done. We know that there is delayed diagnosis internationally, taking up to eight years from when an individual first contacts a doctor experiencing symptoms to receiving a firm diagnosis. Better supports and services need to be in place.

There are still issues concerning access to abortion. Some GP clinics and hospitals still do not offer full abortion services. We know that more than 1,000 women have travelled to England and Wales to access abortions since 2019. It is nearly two years since the Marie O'Shea report was published. The Oireachtas committee reviewed the report and called for its recommendations to be implemented in full. We are still waiting for that, particularly for the three-day waiting period to be removed and the decriminalisation of medical professionals who provide abortion. We would like to see progress in that area.

A colleague mentioned the rise in misogyny, particularly among young men. There are real worries about the attitudes of younger men, the rise in misogyny online and toxic content. We need to address this, understand it better, understand how these men are targeted and how to tackle that. We also know the shocking figures concerning violence against women in this country. Reports to Women's Aid are at an all-time high, with one in four women experiencing sexual violence from a partner and one in five experiencing abuse by an intimate partner before the age of 25. Better supports and more refuge spaces are needed. The Government needs to commit to building a Republic of equals that treats everybody equally and delivers equality for women in Ireland.

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