"Achieving gender equality for women and girls is the greatest unfinished business of our times. Seventy eight per cent of those on the frontline healthcare are women, we were never more reliant and grateful for their work than we have been this year."
This is the view of Green Party Galway City Central councillor, Cllr Martina O'Connor, who was spaeeking at Monday's city council meeting, which took place on March 8 - International Women's Day.
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"I'd like to take a minute on International Women's Day - we remember the day women marched on New York City in 1908 to bring attention to working conditions." Cllr O'Connor stated, and she urged more women to get involved in politics.
'We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back'
"With the support of Cllr Mary Hoade and Minister Peter Burke, I and some of my colleagues here aim to set up caucus for women in Galway with our county colleagues to look at issues such as retention of those that have been elected and promote girls and women with an interest in putting themselves forward for election."
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Cllr O'Connor also called on people from different backgrounds to enter the political arena. "Women are hugely active in volunteerism, promoting health and wellbeing in community groups, activism, and political parties, but need to see themselves taking the next step," Cllr O'Connor added.
She concluded: "Women and men with a more diverse background need to be at this table and at all tables for discussions when decisions are made to really represent the population. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."
