The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) has been sharply criticised for its perceived lack of inclusivity – accused of representing “women of the left only” and of being narrowly partisan.
The NWCI is a taxpayer-funded body which is in receipt of approximately a million euros of public funds each year, for the purpose of ‘representing women’ and – according to its website – ensuring “no woman is left behind.”
It has recently been slammed by women’s groups for its definition of a woman as “any person who identifies as a woman”, and has long attracted criticism from women who say that it only seeks to represent a narrow section of Irish society and is hostile to women who have diverse views on many issues.
Now, scores of complaints on social media from commentators, women in politics and others, point to the speakers chose for the Rally organised by NWCI for International Women’s Day which they say reflects the “narrowly partisan” manner in which the organisation operates. Headline speakers were mostly politicians from the left or leaders of abortion campaigns including the militant group ROSA.
“No Independent women either. Nor indeed women who hold an alternative view on many issues pushed by the women’s & peoples council. #defundNWCI,” wrote Independent Senator Sharon Keogan.
No Independent women either. Nor indeed women who hold an alternative view on many issues pushed by the women's & peoples council. #defundNWCI
— Senator Sharon Keogan (@SenatorKeogan) February 12, 2022
Commentaor Glenna Lynch described the NWCI as “the most partisan NGO in the country” who were “not even even pretending to be representative any more”.
“The so-called Women’s council of Ireland not even pretending to be representative any more. No women from Gov parties. Women of the left only. The most partisan NGO in the country. Funded by you. Always with a finger in the wind,” she wrote.
The so called Women's council of Ireland not even pretending to be representative any more. No women from Gov parties. Women of the left only. The most partisan NGO in the country. Funded by you. Always with a finger in the wind. 🤦♀️ https://t.co/EYUBbkUQP5
— Glenna Lynch (@Glenna_lynch) February 13, 2022
Journalist Mary Kenny agreed, saying: “It’s such a disservice to the women of Ireland that the Women’s Council should be so narrowly partisan. True diversity should mean that there is a place at the table for all – because everyone brings something to the table.”
A PA for former TD Lucinda Creighton, who was often targeted for her pro life beliefs, said the problem wasn’t a new one: “Very glad to see this now being discussed but didn’t just happen today or yesterday. When working as PA with @LCreighton in 2014-2016 it was the very same,” she wrote.
Female politicians from government parties said they were being excluded unfairly.
I do find it strange that there are no govt females.The work done by women in the all Govt parties is making real changes.I find it shocking that @NWCI ignore this.Are we women too? We are working & actually getting results-does this count?why is this org coming across antigovt? https://t.co/TZY1Y1fdqj
— Senator Erin McGreehan (@ErinMcGreehan) February 12, 2022
Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reilly said that she was pro-life and asked “I wonder where I fit in with this gang”. One response posited that “someone would lose their job if you [O’Reilly] got an invite to speak at this event.”
I’m pro-life…. I wonder where I fit in with this gang ? 👀 😏
— Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (@sarahreilly30) February 12, 2022
Many of the posts on social media pointed to public funding without full representation, and to the track record of Labour and other speakers in taking money from single parents.
#NoWomanIsLeftBehind unless you’re a pro-life, practicing Catholic/Christian, anti-feminist, anti-gender ideology woman, yeah? It’s disgraceful that my taxes go to fund this coven of witches! #FeminismIsCancer #AbortionIsMurder #MenAreNotWomen #GenderWageGapIsAMyth
— Máire Ní Éineacháin (@Belgian_Blue) February 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/mise_aine/status/1492550872848429063
One single parent wrote <https://twitter.com/sineadnics/status/1492779523695337472> : “Ivana Bacik? Really? As a single parent I will never forgive them for their callousness in Govt. You really ought to consult more widely before selecting speakers. It’s a Dublin-centric, middle class list of speakers in the main with some exceptions. Very disappointed in you.”
Senator Sharon Keogan called for the NWCI to be defunded.
#boycottNWCI let's see how this organisation will do without government funding. If they have the support of women, then they should be self sustainable. #womenandpeoplescouncil #defund https://t.co/GOjjM5rKxH
— Senator Sharon Keogan (@SenatorKeogan) February 12, 2022
Last year, writing about NWCI funding on this platform, Matt Treacy wrote that much of its €1,000,000 in public funding went on salaries – with €700,000 spent on 14 employees in 2019 described as charitable expenditure.
“In fact in 2019, individual membership income only came to €10,346 with a further €5,136 in donations. That means that a little over 1% of its income, most of which it spends on its staff, is self-generated,” he revealed <https://gript.ie/spotlight-on-ngos-the-self-appointed-national-womens-council/> .