Sir, - We write to repudiate in the strongest possible terms the attacks made on Noreen Byrne, Chairwoman of the National Women's Council of Ireland, in the wake of her contribution to News week magazine on single parenthood. We are concerned at the way her remarks have been sensationalised and distorted by some politicians and journalists. Noreen Byrne's observations on the realities of women's lives require to be listened to attentively, not cynically used to create controversy, so as to undermine and devalue her work and that of women's organisations throughout the country. John Waters's column (January 28th) is the most recent and ill considered of these attacks and should have no place in a newspaper of the standing and quality of The Irish Times.
John Waters expresses the entirely unsubstantiated opinion that selfish, power wielding mothers are depriving fathers of access to their children. He would not, we hope, deny that women and children living with violent, abusive, irresponsible or selfish men have been trapped in intolerable situations, reinforced by a complex network of social, cultural and state structures. Four centuries these structures ensured that women were denied independence and equality not only in their homes, but in all aspects of their lives.
That Irish laws, state institutions and social attitudes are now changing to ensure a measure of independence and autonomy for more women is directly du& to the vision and energy of activists and campaigners in the broad based women's movement, who have worked so hard to bring about such changes. Noreen Byrne has a long and impressive track record in this regard. She, and the 150 organisations affiliated to the National Women's Council of Ireland, make a vital and profound contribution to Irish society at local, national and international levels.
The attack on Noreen Byrne is symptomatic of persistent attempts to misrepresent this crucial contribution as socially divisive or corrosive. We reject any such interpretation and argue that, on the contrary, women's contribution should receive the full and informed recognition and support it so clearly merits. - Yours, etc.,
Director,
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre,
Chief Executive, Well Woman Centres,
Regional Secretary,
UNISON Northern Ireland,
Chairwoman, Women's Aid,
Co-ordinator,
Women's Support Network
(Belfast),
Co-ordinator, One Parent
Exchange & Network (OPEN),
Director, Women's Education,
Research & Resource Centre
(WERRC), UCD.