Sir, - Your coverage of the launch of Partnership 2000 - the new National Agreement (December 23rd) created the impression that the position of the National Women's Council was out of kilter with both CORI and the INOU. In fact, the opposite is the case. Throughout the talks process, the National Women's Council stood firm with all the groups involved from the community/ voluntary sector in our collective view that much more should have been done for those experiencing social exclusion in our society, of which 50 per cent are women.
The National Women's Council pursued three main issues in the talks; only two were mentioned in your coverage. The third is a commitment by Government to measure and value women's unpaid work and the contribution it makes to the economy. This is the breakthrough of interest to all women we mentioned in our positive comments on the outcome of the talks. - Yours, etc.,
Chairwoman,
The National Women's Council of Ireland,
32 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.