Staff and Members in the Houses of the Oireachtas have come together to attend events celebrating International Women's Day 2025.
Marked by millions of people on 8 March, the global event celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year's theme is Accelerate Action, a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources and activity that positively impact women's advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.
The Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy, hosted a reception celebrating the work of women in Parliament, attended by women members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and women members of the diplomatic corps. Invited guest speakers included Deirdre Bonass, skin cancer activist; Anna Furlong, founder of the Rapunzel Foundation; and Anne Marie O’Mahoney and Mia Larkin Walsh from Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy. Music was performed by singers Hayley Crosbie and Sarah Deevy from County Wexford.
Deputy Murphy was selected as Ceann Comhairle in December 2024, becoming the first woman in the history of Dáil Éireann to hold the office. Speaking about the importance of celebrating International Women's Day, she noted:
I very much wanted to mark this milestone, the first International Women’s Day with a female Ceann Comhairle…Today is a day of recognition for women in all aspects of life, women who have used their voices to reach out and make a difference in the world.
Meanwhile, on 4 March the Oireachtas management board hosted an event in the Reading Room of Leinster House.
The strategic committee on People & Organisation welcomed Ms Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Ms Ciara Murphy, CEO of the Bar Council of Ireland, to share their insights on the topic of ‘Navigating the workplace in modern times’.
International Women’s Day at Houses of the Oireachtas
Members of the Oireachtas staff joined the event to hear the guests' insights and mark the event.