Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This morning as I was coming in, I thought about next week and International Women’s Day. For the last four years in this House, and this year will be the fifth, it will be a day off for the boys and us women will be up talking about equality for women, including many women who do not have a clue about some of the inequalities that women on the margins of society go through - women who are homeless, who are escaping domestic violence and who struggle every day to feed their children as they live in the depths of poverty. These are women who do not have equality of opportunity and who are lucky enough to end up in the Houses of the Oireachtas or any big job or role in society. I have said so many times that it is not about taking from women who are rich, have had the best education and have equality of opportunity to be successful in all walks of life but it is about giving women on the edges of society a hand up. It is about reaching out to those women and bringing them with them. We are all talk in this House, and now will be the fifth year, with statements that do not do anything meaningful for women who are homeless, who are escaping domestic violence and who are living in poverty, etc.I am seeking a debate on women's health in this country and what we can do to make the health system a little more bearable for women. We need a health service that all women can trust, whether for psychological or medical help, etc. I ask every man in the House to be mindful next week. It is not up to women alone to debate women's rights. Men also have a part to play. Next week, I would welcome the male Senators taking part in the discussion on women's rights.