Many women are under enormous pressure trying to combine caring responsibilities with work outside the home, writes Padraig Yeates.
She was speaking at a conference in Ballymote, Co Sligo, on Saturday, attended by some 70 women as part of a consultation process on a National Plan for Women being drawn up by the Government.
"Women have moved into the labour market and they have more economic independence, and the benefits of that shouldn't be overlooked," Ms McMinn said.
While the economy had demanded women's participation in the labour force and the increased cost of housing forced many to work outside the home from economic necessity, an adequate childcare system had not been established.
The council has called for affordable, quality childcare for all children and Ms McMinn said the Government should be planning to have this in place when the National Plan for Women expires in 2006. She stressed that while the council was calling for childcare places, it was also lobbying for measures to support women in the home, such as refundable tax credits.
Women who were better educated and from relatively privileged backgrounds had benefited most, but a majority of those at work were disadvantaged by structural inequalities. "Women are in the lower-paid sectors, there are wage differentials and low wages are keeping women in poverty."
The council is seeking the introduction of paid parental leave, quality childcare places, a recognition of caring work in the home and the individualisation of tax and welfare payments which would benefit all women.
She said there had been huge resistance from employers and IBEC to paid parental leave and paternity leave for fathers.
Ms McMinn said she believed there was a need for more activism and for women to make their voices heard at local level. She urged as many groups as possible to get involved in the consultation process on the National Plan, saying there was a need for a wide range of views.
The conference was organised by members of Ballymote Women's Group and the Ballymote Family Resource Centre.
Submissions on the National Plan for Women should be sent to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform by February 15th.