The European Commission will hold a major public debate in Kilkenny this evening (Thursday ) to discuss whether the European Union is addressing the concerns of Irish women today.
The public debate, entitled ‘What women want - is the EU really addressing the concerns of Irish women?’, will take place in Kilkenny Castle at 7.30pm this evening, Thursday, November 6.
“When Ireland made the decision to join the then EEC in 1973, it was a very different country to the one we see today,” explained Martin Territt, head of the EC representation in Ireland.
“For women, in particular, the effect of EU membership has been very real. For example, in the early 1970s, in many jobs women were paid less than men to do the same work.
“Women who were employed in the civil service were obliged to give up their jobs when they retired. And the level of support for working parents was virtually non-existent.
“By joining the EEC, Ireland signed up to equal pay for men and women and equality as a basic European principle.”
But in the 21st century, Mr Territt acknowledged there were new challenges to face and said that it was important to ask whether the EU was still addressing the concerns of Irish women.
The Kilkenny debate will address these issues, with Pat Leahy of the Sunday Business Post as chair of the meeting.
Speakers will include Treasa Ní Mhurchú, vice president of the European Women’s Lobby; Helen Shaw, managing director of Athena Media; Sue Nunn from KCLR’s ‘On the Record’; and Eileen Magnier, RTÉ correspondent.
Members of the public are invited to go along and to listen and then have their say.
