A group of women Oireachtas members from Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats joined forces this morning to urge a Yes vote in the Nice treaty referendum.
Ms Liz O'Donnell, the former PD junior minister for foreign affairs, said that women had made substantial progress in achieving equality since Ireland entered the European Union in 1973.
"Women have gained a lot," she said. "But I'm not asking them for a Yes vote looking back or to repay the EU for past progress, I'm asking for a Yes vote looking forward to our future and our children's future".
She said all women members of the Dáil are in favour of the treaty.
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, noted that the Irish vote on the Nice Treaty was the final hurdle in proceeding with EU enlargement.
"Enlargement is not only good for the candidate countries, its good for Ireland, opening up market of 100 million consumers for our companies," she said.