6th March, 2015

Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day, ahead of travelling to the 59^th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the Minister of State for New Communities, Culture & Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said:

“International Women’s Day is recognition of the contribution to our society made by women. It acknowledges that across the world gender discrimination and gender based violence disproportionately affects women.

“As the Minister with responsibility for Gender Equality, I am too aware of the challenges that we face here and abroad in dealing with gender based discrimination.

“This government has delivered on a number of key issues in the advancement of Gender Equality.

“We introduced X Case legislation to deal with anomalies surrounding reproductive health, we introduced amendments to our electoral law which will fine political parties that fail to run enough female candidates and we have committed to establishing a Talent Bank of women suitably qualified for appointments to State boards to ensure greater gender parity in the state’s corporate governance structures.

“A priority for me has always been to ensure that the government is strongly committed to a gender focus in all Irish Aid (overseas development) initiatives and I know my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs have worked closely in ensuring that this happens.

“International Women’s Day is a celebration of the achievements of women and it is a moment for us all to cast our eyes back through history on the obstacles that women have overcome in the advancement towards gender equality.

“A lot has been accomplished but there is still much work to be done before we can say that we live in a modern and egalitarian society.”

ENDS