Madam, - Fintan Clancy (October 29th) voices concern over the "selection" of three women as authors for our study Gender InJustice, launched on October 24th by President McAleese. May we point out that far from being selected to publish this work, we were able to produce our book because we had submitted a successful proposal for funding under the National Development Plan (Equality for Women Measure). Any other woman or man who wished could have made a similar proposal.
To ensure that our study was representative, we surveyed equal numbers of men and women lawyers, and the report presents the experiences of both genders. However, we found that far more women than men had experienced discrimination on grounds of gender in the legal workplace. We also found that women face particular difficulties in achieving work/life balance as lawyers. It is in the interests of all lawyers, male and female, that these issues are addressed. We would therefore welcome the input of all those in the profession to ensure that the recommendations in the report are implemented. -Yours, etc.,
IVANA BACIK,
Law School, TCD,
CATHRYN COSTELLO,
Fellow, Worcester College,
Oxford University,
EILEEN DREW, FTCD,
School of Systems and
Data Studies,
Trinity College,
Dublin.