Tánaiste Encourages Women To Consider Political Life

I am delighted to be back in Waterford today (Tuesday, 22nd September 1998) having been happy to announce over 400 jobs for the city and its environs only last week.

This very just "Women in Business Exhibition" organised by Network Ireland is designed to promote women in business in the South East to the wider business community and to the general public. It also aims to encourage other women, many of them potential entrepreneurs, to go into business.

I have enjoyed noting the great diversity of business exhibiting here today and congratulate you on this important initiative. Women account for 41% of start up business and Network quite rightly and importantly provides a focus for this significant segment of economic activity. Network is for women in business large and small and so there is exposure to lots of ideas. Many of you in Network will have gained from the high quality seminars presented by your organisation and will have enjoyed the non-competitive yet supportive environment where business challenges or difficulties can be discussed. It is also a very valuable forum for making contacts and sourcing new businesses while in recent years there have been major and welcome changes in the role and status of women in Irish society we must not become complacent.

There were some disturbing findings in a recent European wide survey on working conditions conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions based in Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. The survey found that only 17% of women advance to senior or managerial position in organisations compared to one third of men who hold supervisory positions. Although there has been a dramatic improvement in the number of women in the workplace over the last 10/20 years "inequality of wages and lack of career opportunity for women are still big problems" much needs to be done and this Government is particularly aware of the need to develop and support childcare services and to find a mechanism which will be fair to all mothers in their life choices.

During a recent visit to Waterford I was pleased to visit Waterford Childcare in the Industrial Park and to note that it is a model of its kind which received support under the EU NOW Programme and some additional State support. We need more such centres of excellence.

Women in the workforce need flexibility and this is a real challenge for management who need to be creative in their approach in order to attract and retain good employees. Today's employer need to think in terms of job-sharing, part-time hours, career breaks, unpaid carers leave, maternity and paternity leave.

Consultation and careful planning involving the workforce can bring about successful models which are good for the individual and good for business. I warmly congratulate and endorse all your efforts on display here today. Could I leave your with one thought about my profession - politics which too is exciting and challenging if at times tough and solitary. Politics - Ireland - need more women - as members of political parties and as Candidates, TDs, Senators and Councillors. All of you here this evening are active, dynamic and hard working. May I encourage you to consider how you might deepen your commitment to this county and its future by considering a career in politics in the party of your choice. As a Party Leader of the Progressive Democrats a party with a clear business focus and a strong social commitment. I want to assure you of a welcome to our ranks.