The Irish social welfare system denies women their rights!

Published: Monday, February 07, 2005

A seminar today, organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI), concluded that the social welfare system in Ireland is denying women their full economic independence and reinforces the notion of women as adult dependents and not as individuals in their own right. The Seminar which was attended by over 39 women's organisations in the Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal areas, brought women together to discuss the very real but profoundly negative impact of the social welfare system on their lives.

''Today's Seminar has given women in the North-West an opportunity to come together to take action against the negative situations they find themselves in, as a result of the structure of the Irish social welfare system. We demand change to the system, which has adverse consequences on many of their lives'' stated Orla O'Connor, Head of Policy, NWCI.

At the seminar, the Donegal Women's Network, an affiliate member of the NWCI, launched their report: 'Alive?....but not Registered - Research into Women's Experiences of Accessing the Live Register in Donegal'. ''The Donegal Women's Network and the NWCI share the view that for real change to happen, it is essential that the experiences of women, especially those most marginalised, continue to be heard. By consulting with women at a regional level, in the planning of seminars, such as today's, the NWCI has enabled women to inform and direct this debate. Women have a right to be heard and a right to be included!'' said Finola Brennan, Co-ordinator, Donegal Women's Network.

The Seminar outlined how the social welfare system fails to recognise women's unpaid care work and the impact and restriction that this has on women's employment choices. ''The consequences of this failure are the unacceptable levels of poverty experienced by certain categories of women, who are, or who have been engaged in care work for long periods, particularly lone parents and older women '' continued Ms O'Connor.

Today's Seminar is just one of a number of regional seminars taking place as a result of the NWCI's 2003 research report: 'A Women's Model for Social Welfare Reform', which highlights the urgent need for reform of the system. Today's Seminar was organised in conjunction with 17 women's groups and people working to promote women's rights in the North-West.