NWCI Discussion Forum – May, 2007, DIT

Recently, the WITS Executive Committee decided that it was worthwhile to review our current goals and those of the NWCI organisation and to clarify and refine the mandate for the nature of our membership to NWCI in policy/representation terms.  A discussion forum was scheduled for May 22, 2007 at DIT to look at these points.. WITS have been a delegate organisation of the National Women’s Council of Ireland for the past few years.    Frances Buggy, the WITS executive representative to NWCI, facilitated the discussions at this event which included introductory presentations from Joanne McMinn – Director of the NWCI and Margaret Finlay, Chairperson of WITS and followed by a Q & A session.

It was agreed that WITS must contribute to the education of NWCI board and delegate organisations on the SET and workplace /societal /educational issues of relevance to WITS.   In order that NWCI can disseminate our general messages more broadly, raise awareness of our SET related issues and support/be aware of our initiatives – but not to overshadow our independent targeted initiatives or compromise our WITS identity/branding, we encourage critical well informed debate.

This informing of the NWCI/their delegate organisations will be via WITS participation in the NWCI event quadrants of Political/equality (WITS 1), Economic/work/life balance issues (WITS 2), Socio-cultural (WITS 3 Possible input on Education policy),  and Affective issues, and supported by dissemination of any existing position papers /resource documents.

Our continuing membership and current representation of WITS at the NWCI by Frances Buggy was approved and our focus was confirmed on the SET related agenda and shared interests of equality of opportunity and gender diversity at senior levels in decision making in Ireland.”

For a more detailed overview see Frances' summary on pdf here: