Oireachtas to commemorate 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage

The Houses of the Oireachtas will next year host a series of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which gave Irish women the right to vote and run in parliamentary elections.

The events will include an academic conference, hosted in conjunction with the Royal Irish Academy, called Representation, Gender and Politics: Past and Present.

Other events include a youth debate in Seanad Éireann, an arts exhibition in Leinster House, and an exhibition on Countess Markievicz.

Senator Ivana Bacik, who also practises as a barrister, said: “As Chairperson of the Vótáil100 Committee which is organising the celebrations around the 2018 centenary of women’s suffrage in Ireland, I am delighted we will have so many exciting events and exhibitions taking place in Leinster House.

“We hope that our Vótáil100 Programme will encourage and inspire more women to become politically involved, and will remind us all about the importance of the right to vote.”