Evelyn Owens
Encyclopedia
Evelyn P. Owens was an Irish
Labour Party
politician and trade union activist.
She was born in the Dublin suburb of Clontarf
and following secondary education in the local Holy Faith School, began work for Dublin Corporation
in the city treasurer’s department. While working, she studied for a diploma in public administration in Trinity College Dublin.
During her time working in the Corporation, she became an advocate of equal pay for women, and became active in the Irish Local Government Officials' Union (now part of the IMPACT
trade union). She held several senior union positions before being elected the first woman president of the union in 1967. She was a member of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
, chairman of its women’s advisory committee and a member of the Council for the Status of Women.
She was elected to Seanad Éireann
on the Labour Panel at the 1969 Seanad election, and was re-elected in 1973. She served as Leas-Chathaoirleach
(Deputy Speaker) of the Seanad from 1973–77. She was defeated at the 1977 Seanad election.
In 1984 she was appointed to the Labour Court, first as deputy chairperson and subsequently as chairperson, a position she held from 1994 until 1998. After her retirement in 1998, she served as a member of the board of Beaumont Hospital and of the Irish Medical Council
.
She died in Dublin on 26 September 2010.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
politician and trade union activist.
She was born in the Dublin suburb of Clontarf
Clontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
and following secondary education in the local Holy Faith School, began work for Dublin Corporation
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
in the city treasurer’s department. While working, she studied for a diploma in public administration in Trinity College Dublin.
During her time working in the Corporation, she became an advocate of equal pay for women, and became active in the Irish Local Government Officials' Union (now part of the IMPACT
Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union
The Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union is a trade union in the Republic of Ireland. It primarily organises workers in education, health, local government and the civil service...
trade union). She held several senior union positions before being elected the first woman president of the union in 1967. She was a member of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
, chairman of its women’s advisory committee and a member of the Council for the Status of Women.
She was elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
on the Labour Panel at the 1969 Seanad election, and was re-elected in 1973. She served as Leas-Chathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
(Deputy Speaker) of the Seanad from 1973–77. She was defeated at the 1977 Seanad election.
In 1984 she was appointed to the Labour Court, first as deputy chairperson and subsequently as chairperson, a position she held from 1994 until 1998. After her retirement in 1998, she served as a member of the board of Beaumont Hospital and of the Irish Medical Council
Irish Medical Council
Comhairle na nDochtúirí Leighis - Medical Council is the regulator of the medical profession in the Republic of Ireland. It licenses medical practitioners to practise, and has the power to place restrictions on or revoke such licences, in cases of questions about a doctor's fitness to practise...
.
She died in Dublin on 26 September 2010.