Letter campaign seeks fair deal for women

MORE THAN 10,000 letters were delivered to the door of Finance Minister Brian Cowen yesterday in a campaign to end discrimination against women in the social welfare system.

The campaign, led by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), is demanding changes to the system so women will be more financially independent and have increased access to pensions.

“Women have contributed substantially to the creation of Ireland’s wealth by juggling paid employment with unpaid care work, yet the structure of the social welfare system has not changed to accommodate women,” NWCI head of policy Orla O’Connor said.

In particular, the NWCI is angry that the system continues to treat women as adult dependants, does not recognise unpaid care work and does not support or enable part-time work.

Ms O’Connor added that the thousands of women who had signed the letters had shown their anger and frustration at the unfairness of a system that reinforced poverty and inequality.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan has met with the NWCI prior to yesterday’s launch and has acknowledged the unfair treatment of women within the welfare system.

But, said Ms O’Connor, it was crucial that both Mr Cowen and Mr Brennan worked together to ensure that resources would be allocated for changes to Budget 2006 that would make a real difference to women.