Battle of the sexes has no place in the fight to fix our economy

More men than women have lost their jobs during the downturn, particularly in the construction sector – and please let no one pretend that working on the sites in all weathers is somehow easier than cleaning the Dáil, especially when men are more likely to lose their lives at work and have lower life expectancy

ON WEDNESDAY, at a protest by the campaign called Communities against Cuts, Susan McKay of the National Women’s Council told her audience outside Dáil Eireann that women did not create the property boom and bust but that they would be expected to clean up the mess. “There’s far more women cleaning the Dáil behind us than working in it as politicians,” she was reported as saying. “It isn’t women who run the banks either and when did you last see a woman who said she was a property developer?” Apparently, her comments drew loud cheers.

I happen to know Susan and worked with her in The Sunday Tribune when she was an excellent reporter, particularly on issues relating to politics in Northern Ireland and on violence against women. She is an unashamed feminist, who wishes to promote the status of women in society. All of which is fair enough.