Agriculture Supports
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-10
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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF), Labour Panel

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing my Commencement matter. I also thank the Minister for coming in. I am very grateful that he is attending here himself.
As the Minister will know, we would be lost without women. I just wanted to say that at the very start. As we mark 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, it is timely to reflect on both the significant contribution of women to Irish agriculture and the steps still required to recognise and strengthen their role. Women are central to the sustainability, resilience and viability of our agricultural sector, yet despite their immense contribution, they remain persistently under-represented as farm holders. According to the Farm Structure Survey 2023 conducted by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, women make up just 13.2% of farm holders in Ireland, accounting for 17,519 out of 133,174 farm holders. A related study funded by the Department of agriculture and published in March 2025 found that a similar figure of 13.4% of farm holders are women, a figure that has shown little increase since 1991.
The picture becomes even clearer when we look beyond ownership to overall labour. The CSO notes that women account for 34% of all farm workers in Ireland, highlighting that while women participate widely in farm labour, they are far less represented in positions of legal and marginal authority. Additionally, female farm holders tend to operate smaller farms, often in areas with lower land values, and remain disproportionately represented in lower income farm systems such as mixed field crops and specialist sheep. This is consistent with broader research showing that female farm incomes are consistently lower than those of their male counterparts.
As we celebrate the year of the woman farmer, it is vital to ask how we ensure this year becomes not just symbolic but a catalyst for lasting change. The Department has already recognised the importance of increasing the presence of women in the agricultural field. The Government's women in agriculture initiatives, which I welcome, the national dialogue on women in agriculture and the emerging national women in agriculture action plan all underline a clear commitment to gender equality within the sector. Furthermore, Ireland's active co-sponsorship of this UN-designated year demonstrates leadership internationally. The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 aims to highlight the essential but often overlooked roles that women play throughout the agrifood systems and to promote action to close gender gaps. The Department has committed to amplifying the visibility of Irish women farmers throughout the year, recognising the persistent barriers regarding land access, finance, training and representation.
What further measures will the Department introduce during the year of the woman farmer to promote equality of access to land, training and financial supports? Will the Minister's Department commit to expanding gender-disaggregated data collection to better capture women's roles, their incomes and farm decision-making? How will the Minister's Department ensure the national women in agriculture action plan is fully implemented, with clear timelines and accountability?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:36+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-10