On Friday, 1st September, the SIPTU Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon (SLR) District Council will launch its annual Markievicz/Partridge summer school in the Southern Hotel, Sligo. Markievicz/Partridge summer school co-ordinator, Ashling Dunne, said: “This year, we have decided to host our annual summer school in Sligo following our very successful event in Roscommon last year. We have an exciting range of academic and vocational speakers lined up for the event.” The theme of this year’s summer school is “valuing care work.” The second day of the summer school – which will be held on Saturday, 2nd September from 10am in the Southern Hotel – will debate the upcoming referendum on recognising care in the constitution. SIPTU Care Sector Organiser, Pat Flannery, said: “SIPTU represents thousands of workers in the care sector. It is vital that their voice is heard in the debate on constitutional change, especially when it comes to valuing and recognising care.” Following recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality, the government announced the referendum last March. The Assembly recommended a referendum to remove the constitutional limits on women; to value and recognise care in the home and the wider community; and to protect all families equally. SIPTU SLR District Council co-ordinator, Denis Gormalley, said: “This event has been organised by our SLR District Council members to discuss the proposed constitutional referendum and to put forward a progressive, forward-looking exemplar for valuing care in the generations to come.” Among the confirmed speakers over the two days are: SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley; Ashling Silke, lecturer in early childhood education; Assistant General Secretary of the ASTI, Moira Leydon; Dr. Majella Mulkeen, lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences at the Institute of Technology, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo; Pat Flannery, Sector Organiser, SIPTU Care Sector; early years educators; and Eilish Balfe, care policy officer with the National Women’s Council.
Markievicz/Partridge summer school to focus on valuing care work
