When people think about European policymaking, they often picture Brussels. But some of the most important conversations influencing Europe’s policies on women’s health, finance, business and equality should be happening much closer to home - here in Galway.
Every day, decisions made at European level affect the lives of women across our county. From workplace rights and access to finance, to healthcare, entrepreneurship and online safety, the policies agreed in Brussels have a direct impact on our communities.
As an MEP working on the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, I am pushing for action on the issues that matter to women across Ireland - tackling the 8% gender pay gap and 24% pension gap, addressing gender-based violence, improving protections in online spaces and ensuring women’s health receives the attention it deserves.
However, it shouldn’t only be the voices of politicians that are heard at the decision making table - I want the ideas and opinions of women living and working in Galway to directly influence my work.
On Friday 3 July, I am hosting an event, Thriving Mna?: From Health to Wealth, Empowering Women in Galway to facilitate this. The event will bring together women from across the Midlands North-West at The Hardiman Hotel for a day focused on health, economic empowerment and leadership. We will discuss upcoming European legislation, hear from women who have built successful careers and businesses, and create opportunities for networking and collaboration.
I am honoured to have leading experts in health and finance share their insights. Crucially, I would also like to invite you to join us - women from across Galway city, county and the West of Ireland. Women who will share what they want the future of finance, healthcare and equality to look like.
While we have made significant progress on gender equality in Ireland and the EU, gaps undoubtedly remain. Women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions, face barriers to accessing finance and investment and often experience poorer outcomes in healthcare because female-specific conditions have historically been under-researched and underfunded.
Across Europe, many women still experience delays in diagnosis and treatment for conditions that disproportionately affect them. For example, despite cardiovascular disease and heart diseases being the leading cause of death among women, they are twice as likely to be misdiagnosed, in part due to the fact that women’s symptoms present differently to men’s.
I have worked to ensure these inequalities are recognised at European level because better health outcomes are not only a healthcare issue; they are an economic issue too. Studies
have shown that there is an estimated 9 billion euro loss to companies due to lack of treatment and support for women experiencing menopause symptoms.
Economic empowerment is equally critical. Across the Midlands-North West, I meet women with innovative ideas, thriving businesses and ambitious plans for growth. Yet too many continue to face barriers when seeking investment; in 2024, female-founded companies received just 12% of total European venture capital funding. That is why I have consistently called for greater support for female entrepreneurship at European level and why I believe we must continue building networks that connect women with opportunities, mentors and one another.
Across Galway and our wider region, women are already leading in business, farming, healthcare, education, community development and public service. Their voices deserve to be heard not only locally but at national and European level.
I hope women from Galway and across the West of Ireland will join me on Friday 3 July from 10.30am to 2:30pm in The Hardiman Hotel. The event is free to attend, and you can register at my website mariawalsh.eu
Maria Walsh is a Fine Gael MEP for the Midlands-North West, and is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP ).
