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'We're falling very far short': Citizens' Assembly on gender equality to start work in autumn

The assembly will begin its work in October this year.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced the establishment of a new Citizen’s Assembly on gender equality which will begin its work in October this year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar assembly will look at reasons women are still paid less and find it harder to reach top positions as well as examining womens’ unequal share of the burden of care. 

“Ireland is a country in which we’ve made great strides forward when it comes to equality between men and women in recent years, whether it’s changing our laws on issues such as divorce, reproductive rights and domestic violence, whether it’s the fact that there are more women at work than ever before, more women who are financially independent than before, whether it’s the fact that more women are doing well in professions in business and in politics,” the Taoiseach said. 

However I don’t think anyone could argue for a second that Ireland is a country in which men and women are equal. We fall very far short of that and the current pace of change and the current rate of progress is too slow. 

Varadkar said at the current rate, it could take many generations before women and men in Ireland are “truly equal”. 

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said the government wants to hear from the assembly about ways the State can support women and whether there are government policies or legislation that are hindering co-responsibility when it comes to childcare. 

The assembly will have six months to do its work and report back with recommendations. 

After this, the Taoiseach said another Citizens’ Assembly for Dublin will look at local government in the capital and how it can be better organised. This will include the possibility of a directly elected mayor, whether Dublin needs four councils and which powers could be transferred from central government to Dublin. 

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    Mute Paul
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:18 PM

    Suggestion. If viable, the seized drugs could be cleaned and refined so it may be possible to use the end product in pharma

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    Mute Nigel Mcatamney
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    Apr 24th 2019, 2:04 PM

    @Paul: good idea, only there’s very little coke in irelands coke, and the way our authorities price Cannabis, we be buying back 4 fold from pharma…. But your progressive thinking is what’s needed as opposed to all the nay sayers.

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Apr 24th 2019, 2:23 PM

    More wasted Gardaí resources. :(
    Legalise, regulate, tax!

    30
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    Mute Mick.
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    Apr 24th 2019, 3:08 PM

    @Todd Hebert: Ahh yes the legalise argument. Why not legalise Crystal Meth and Heroin too!!!
    Maybe we can give Fentanyl out like sherbet while we are at it!!! What could possibly go wrong?????

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    Mute Wez Moore
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    Apr 24th 2019, 3:27 PM

    @Mick.: Let’s take it one step at a time.. Although I appreciate your enthusiasm.

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    Mute Seamus Mac
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    Apr 24th 2019, 5:51 PM

    @Todd Hebert: i saw a guy last week beating the shxt out of his girlfriend outside their house. They were fighting over heroin. I intervened & called the guards. Drugs are a poison on our society. We need more regulation & stricter sentencing along with adequate rehabilitation resources.

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    Mute Tony Donoghue
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    Apr 24th 2019, 11:37 AM

    Grassed up?

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    Mute Niall Binéad
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    Apr 24th 2019, 11:46 AM

    @Tony Donoghue: welcome to the debate!

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    Mute Tony Donoghue
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:05 PM

    @Niall Binéad: are u the master?

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    Mute Niall Binéad
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:18 PM

    @Tony Donoghue: my welcoming you to the debate was sarcastic….. what does grassed up even mean? Are u the master? Wtf does that also mean? If you’re going to add your voice towards the content of the article…. great, if you’re just going to try start your own conversation….. great, I’m out!

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:26 PM

    @Niall Binéad: I believe it’s a pun; marijuana sometime being referred to colloquially as ‘grass’, which is also a verb meaning to inform the authorities of another’s (illicit) activities.

    This is a comments section, not a moderated debate.

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    Mute Tony Donoghue
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:40 PM

    @Niall Binéad: I know we don’t want Trump & O’Sullivan out so early, hopefully he will win final frame decider!

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Apr 24th 2019, 12:41 PM

    @Karen Wellington: I’m impressed.

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    Mute Tony Donoghue
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    Apr 24th 2019, 3:31 PM

    @Niall Binéad: chill dude, you’ve become v uptight since all that cannabis was seized!

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    Mute McNulty Jimmy
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    Apr 24th 2019, 5:45 PM

    Bit of a stretch calling Ballyfermot west Dublin

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