What are the key issues facing women workers and unionists in your country?
For those in the organised movement; our responsibility is to look to those who are not at the table, who are not in the movement.
In Ireland we have a responsibility to face the lack of respect for new communities. We must recognise that our first responsibility is to help those who are treated as less than human.
Your dynamism as a labour movement is never shown by those who are easy to organise; it is shown by those who are difficult to organise. If you dont start at the hard end, it never ends up there. And thats where employers go for cheap labour.
Our movement in Ireland, North and South, is facing privatization. Were facing coming out of a conflict.
What do you hope to bring to the conference?
Some of the lessons that have come out of organising within a conflict.
It is also with some weariness and regret that I hear American voices calling for a war Iraq. In my country, Americans helped bring about some level of peace with justice. Its ironic that, then they argued that you cant demonise your enemy. Yet now theyre arguing for the demonisation and death of the Iraqi people.
The American government cannot speak for the American people. The recent demonstrations show ordinary people are saying Not in my name.
What do you hope to gain from the conference?
I want to learn from the women who have no space, and yet are able to struggle effectively. And in terms of women like us, who have more space, what we can do to serve them.
Any other comments/impressions?
I was shocked that such a basic human right as paid maternity leave is not on this governments agenda. Perhaps if Mr Howard stopped running around the world trying to legitimize killing, and instead devoted his energies to things which nurture humanity, then perhaps paid maternity leave might appear on his agenda.