Meetings
Citizens' Assembly on
Gender Equality
14 November 2020
Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality
First Work & Social Protection Meeting
The Assembly met online on 14 November. This meeting focused on the following topic from the Oireachtas resolution:‘To identify and dismantle economic and salary norms that result in gender inequalities, and reassess the economic value placed on work traditionally held by women and ‘To scrutinise the structural pay inequalities that result in women being disproportionately represented in low pay sectors’Â
This topic was covered over 2 meetings with the second meeting on this topic taking place on 5 December. The Agenda for this meeting can be viewed here.
Saturday’s Proceedings
Please note that the information in the presentations and papers and its interpretation is based on the specialist expertise of the speakers who are independent of the Assembly and its Chair and Secretariat.Â
Members give feedback from breakout rooms
Each breakout group nominated a member to give feedback from their discussion.
A transcript of the session is available here and a video can be viewed below:
Morning Session
Dr Catherine Day opened the morning session and members viewed a short video about low-paid workers.
Dr Helen Russell, ESRI
Dr Helen Russell presented to the Assembly in two parts.
Dr Helen Russell first delivered a presentation on Gender and Paid Work, which was accompanied by a slideshow presentation.
Dr Helen Russell followed up on her introductory presentation with a presentation on the Gender Pay Gap: Causes and Solutions. Her video presentation, below, was accompanied by a more detailed slideshow presentation.
After Members watched Dr Helen Russell’s presentation, there was a Q&A with Helen Russell, Frances McGinnity and Karina Doorly of the ESRI. A video can be viewed below.
Dr. Pauline Cullen – Work – Citizens’ Assembly
Dr. Pauline Cullen presented on the Work Submissions received by the Citizens’ Assembly. Her video presentation, below, was accompanied by a slideshow presentation. To download the contents of the summary table on Work, click here.
Advocacy panel: Work & Pay
A paper was submitted by each speaker and can be accessed by clicking on their name.
- Jennifer McCarthy Flynn – The National Women’s Council
- Kara McGann – IBEC
- David Joyce – Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
- Moderated by Paul Donnelly – Technological University Dublin.
A vide of the session is viewable below.
Advocacy:Â Small Firms Association
Elizabeth Bowen delivered a perspective from the Small Firms Association, which was accompanied by a paper.
Lived Experience
A video of this discussion can be viewed below, while papers submitted by each speaker can be accessed by clicking on their name.
- Avril Hannifin – An Cosán
- Suzy Byrne – National Advocacy service for people with disabilities
- Mariaam Bhatti – Campaigner, community worker & social policy practitioner
- Moderated by Tom Arnold – Chairperson of the Irish Constitutional Convention.
Afternoon Session
Dr Catherine Day introduced the afternoon session. Her remarks can be viewed below.
Professor Damian Grimshaw
The Members watched a video and slideshow presentation by Professor Grimshaw.
The Chair introduced the afternoon discussion session, then members moved into their breakout groups.
Dr Alicja Bobek, Trinity College
Citizens took a break from their discussions to watch Dr Alicja Bobek present on her research on Experiences of Working in Low Pay Sectors, which was accompanied by a more detailed slideshow presentation.
As well as the previous videos citizens had also watched the following videos to prepare for their discussion
Economic benefits of gender equality: Labour market activity and equal pay – European Institute for Gender Equality
Perspectives of Health Care Assistants – SIPTU
Gender equality women and men with equal opportunities to work and develop – Business Europe
Politicians supporting WorkEqual 2020Â – Work Equal
Citizens also received a summary paper prepared by the Secretariat.
After their discussions, members returned for a plenary session where Dr Catherine Day concluded the first Work meeting
The Chair’s closing remarks can be viewed below.
Additional questions responded to by speakers.
Click below to view additional questions responded to by speakers.
Questions to speakers
Below are responses provided by speakers to members questions.
- Professor Helen Russell, Gender and Paid Work & Gender Pay Gap: Causes and Solutions
- Dr. Pauline Cullen, Work Submissions
- Kara McGann, Advocacy panel: Work & Pay
- David Joyce, Advocacy panel: Work & Pay
- Elizabeth Bowen, Small Firms Association perspective
