Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today, on International Women's Day, we celebrate progress, acknowledge ongoing inequalities and renew our commitment to a world free from gender bias, discrimination and violence. As a TD and GP, I see at first hand how gender inequality affects women in the workplace, at home and in healthcare. While Ireland has made significant strides in advancing women's rights, many barriers to full equality remain. Gender-based violence continues to be a national crisis. The CSO's 2022 survey revealed that 52% of women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2023, Women's Aid recorded more than 40,000 disclosures of abuse, an increase of nearly 18% from the previous year. There have been 273 violent deaths of women since 1996, usually at the hands of someone they knew. For women in rural Ireland, escaping violence is even more challenging due to limited access to support services such as rape crisis centres and Safe Ireland, often exacerbated by inadequate public transport. The establishment of Cuan is a positive step but without proper funding, accessibility and awareness it will not be enough. Women cannot achieve equality if they do not feel safe in their homes, communities or workplaces. In Ireland, women continue to shoulder the majority of unpaid care work, limiting their career progression, financial independence and access to healthcare. Census 2022 found that women make up about 61% of unpaid carers and 90% of those caring full time at home. This extends beyond childcare to include elderly care, supporting disabled family members and emotional labour. Many women struggle to balance work and medical appointments with the lack of home help and public transport creating further barriers to accessing care. Achieving true gender equality requires valuing and redistributing care work by improving childcare, expanding paid family leave and encouraging men to take on caring roles.

I am acutely aware that I speak as a male politician but I am also a father and an uncle to many wonderful nieces. We need more women in politics. Encouraging political aspirations among young women should start in schools where leadership and confidence can be fostered early. Programmes that promote civic engagement are essential. Schools should encourage female participation in debates, student councils and mock parliaments, providing young women with opportunities to voice their opinions and develop critical thinking. Representation is key, bringing female political leaders into schools as mentors or speakers to inspire students to see politics as a viable path for them. Some women experience compounded inequalities including those with disabilities, migrant women and survivors of abuse. Our policies must reflect the diversity of women's experiences and ensure progress is measured not just in policy but in real change.

International Women's Day is not just about recognising inequality; it is about actively dismantling it.

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