Celebrating International Women's Day 2022

The latest CEO Update to Ibec membership from Danny McCoy

Dear member,

Today Ibec is proud to be marking International Women’s Day. As a business community, we recognise and celebrate the many women entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders across all our industries who underpin our dynamic, resilient business model.  

Historically, it is well documented that women are disproportionately impacted by crises, disasters, and societal disruption. Amidst the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine, daily we are witnessing on our screens, scenes of women being forced to split their families apart as they look to escape the conflict. In conflict zones around the world, women are disproportionately subjected to acts of gender-based violence and human rights atrocities. In the negotiating spaces and humanitarian resolutions sought to end such acts, it is imperative that women’s voices are present and heard.

In addition to this, Ibec research highlighted how the Covid pandemic deepened pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which are in turn amplifying the impacts of the Covid fallout. Such events accentuate long standing gender imbalances across several dimensions, threatening hard-won markers of gender equity.

While businesses have signalled a strong commitment to engage and ensure these trends are reversed permanently, if gender equality is to be the goal, we need to shift to an equity agenda that ensures we are putting the right measures in place to actively correct the historical wrongs and systemic barriers that leave women and gender diverse people behind and provide them with the tools and support they need to thrive.

Across our social media channels this week to mark International Women’s Day, Ibec and its trade associations will be promoting and celebrating female leaders. I would strongly encourage you to get involved on your own social media channels using the hashtag #IWD2022. Tomorrow, we are partnering with the Tuam Herald for a special supplement that profiles women, contemporary and historic, who have contributed to our society. You can visit our website to learn more about the areas we are working on to deliver real progress in the representation of women in Ireland in business and society. 

I will leave you with a link to an interview with Ibec Head of Social Policy, Dr. Kara McGann, by Jonathan Healy on Cork’s Red FM Red Business show, where she details the pace of progress being made with gender balance and equity in our workplaces and society. A key message resonates: As a business community, it is imperative that we each make it our job to continue to change and challenge stereotypes, and preconceived perceptions. With this comes the ability to influence future generations in a positive way. 

Regards, 

Danny McCoy

CEO 

Ibec