Women's Caucus Holds First-Ever Networking Event

The Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Laura Donaghy, and Cllr Emma Murphy, Chair of the South Dublin County Council (SDCC) Women’s Caucus, hosted a historic first-ever networking event on International Women’s Day, March 8 to celebrate the launch of the SDCC Women’s Caucus.

The SDCC Women’s Caucus has been set up to increase women’s engagement and representation in local politics. The caucus is for women councillors, past and present, of all parties and parties of none, to discuss and campaign on issues predominantly affecting women.

The recently formed SDCC Women’s Caucus has adopted an action plan that sets out four key priorities for the caucus in the years ahead. They are:

1. Informal Networking:

Get to know each other and build strong support for Women Councillors while pooling knowledge and sharing experience of Council work in a safe environment.

2. Motions and Policy:

Bring to the Council consensus motions that improve the lives of women and girls in South Dublin County.

3. Increasing Female Leadership Participation Countywide:

Support and promote the visibility of women in leadership positions. Create outreach that showcases opportunities for women of all ages and diverse backgrounds in leadership and inspire participation in the next generation. Give women in South Dublin County a voice.

4. Tackle Barriers for Women in Politics in SDCC:

To improve supports for women councillors to make it easier for women to take on and maintain their Council role.

The SDCC women’s caucus plans to hold an annual general meeting in December each year and will promote its work through the South Dublin County Council website.

Cllr Emma Murphy, Chair of the South Dublin County Council Women’s Caucus, said, “A year to the day since the motion was passed to establish the caucus, it is wonderful to launch the caucus formally and to meet in person for the first time. The caucus is going to be invaluable to the development and support of women who are engaging with or who wish to engage in the political spectrum in South Dublin.

The caucus is for women councillors, past and present, of all parties and parties of none, to discuss and campaign on issues predominantly affecting women. I am delighted that we can hold an event such as this on International Women’s Day and to have Councillors past and present coming together in County Hall.

Since 1995 we have had just 44 women elected or co-opted to South Dublin County Council and the learnings from past elected representatives are going to be critical to the development of the caucus and it is wonderful to see some of them here this evening.”