MEP hits out at gender pay gap

Irish women are paid on average almost a fifth less than their male counterparts in the workplace, the European Parliament heard today.

Bairbre de Brun, a Sinn Féin MEP, said there was an average pay gap of 15% between men and women across the European Union.

But, in a speech in the European Parliament, the MEP said: “In a recent survey in my country, in Ireland, it emerged that the gender pay gap has substantially increased for women in spite of Ireland’s economic growth. Irish women are paid 17% less for the same work as Irish men. Growth and jobs alone will not bring gender equality.”

Ms de Brun warned practical measures must be initiated to ensure increased employment opportunities for women on the basis of equality.

The MEP said EU leaders had promised to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty by 2010 under the Lisbon Agenda.

“Yet, more than half-way through the 10-year period of the ‘Lisbon Agenda’, this has not happened. In light of this, the Lisbon Agenda’s pledge to effectively tackle gender equality must be viewed with a degree of scepticism,” she said.

Ms de Brun said she welcomed a report from another MEP Edite Estrela on the future of the Lisbon strategy with regards to gender matters.

“The present emphasis on achieving growth at the expense of social inclusion, working conditions and environmental protection cannot in any way lead us in the direction of greater gender equality. This issue must be addressed through positive actions and not simply paid lip service,” she said.

“Whilst the principle of equality has been established throughout the EU, the practice has not. It is up to all of us to change this situation.”