WOMEN'S RIGHTS:THE EUROPEAN Union has been a continuously progressive force in the lives of Irish women, Labour deputy leader Joan Burton told a pro-Lisbon meeting yesterday.
Speaking at an event organised by the Charter Group, an organisation founded by trade unionists and left-leaning politicians, Ms Burton said many younger women took for granted the “really solid progress” the EU had brought.
She found the EU to be “continuously a progressive force in the lives of Irish women seeking to improve conditions for themselves, their children, their families and their communities”.
Ms Burton was joined by Senator Ivana Bacik, former senator Mary Henry and Labour councillor Maria Parodi, representing four generations of women endorsing a Yes vote on Friday.
Dr Henry cited the importance of the European directive on equal pay for men and women, which she said was an important victory for women in the 1970s.
“That EU directive brought about the women’s movement in this country because we got galvanised when we saw we actually could win on issues, and it was the confidence we got from that that pushed so many issues forward,” Dr Henry said.
