Seminars

The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme has organised two key seminars to raise awareness and understanding of the issues relating to crisis pregnancy and new data in the field. These seminars aimed to provide key players and policy makers with the most recent research findings in the area. Seminars that have taken place to date include:

1.    Presentation of Findings from Three Sub-Reports of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships 2008

2.    The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment Seminar 2007

More information about these seminars, see below:

1.     Presentation of Findings from Three Sub-Reports of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships

The Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) hosted a half-day seminar on findings from sub-reports of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR), on April 11th 2008, in Croke Park.
New findings include:

• nearly one third of men and a fifth of women, aged 18-24, had sex before they were 17
• young people were more likely to report that they regretted this decision when compared to those who waited until they were older
• 16.6% of men and 14.5% of women reported that they engaged in first sex at 16
• of those who engaged in first sex at 16, 43% of women and 19% of men expressed regret at the timing, saying that they “should have waited longer”
• 14.9% of men and 7.9% of women reported that they engaged in first sex under 16
• of those who engaged in first sex under 16, 59% of women, and 37% of men expressed regret.

The seminar was well attended by over 60 stakeholders involved in healthcare, health promotion, crisis pregnancy, STI prevention, education and youth work.

ISSHR, commissioned by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the DOHC is the first dedicated study of sexual health and relationships conducted in Ireland, with a nationally representative sample of over 7,441 respondents. The main report was launched in 2006.

A presentation of key findings by the two principal investigators – Professor Richard Layte (ESRI) and Professor Hannah McGee (RCSI) accompanied the launch of the sub-reports, followed by themed workshops focusing on: ‘Designing Sexual Health Services for Proactive Sexual Health’ and ‘Promoting Sexual Understanding and Safety for Life among Young People’.

The three new sub reports are available for download below:

Report 1 - Learning about Sex and First Sexual Experiences
Report 2 - Sexual Health Challenges and Related Service Provision
Report 3 - Contemporary Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours
To view a copy of the principal investigators’ presentation, click here
To view a copy of the press release, click here

2.    The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment Seminar

‘The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment’ was a joint venture between the Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, Trinity College Dublin. By bringing together Irish and international speakers, the aim was to raise awareness and understanding of the link between parenting, pregnancy decision making and workplace issues and investigate what is required in the workplace of the future to support workers who are parents and facing parenthood. The seminar was opened by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs and took place in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, no. 6 Kildare Street on November 8th 2007.

Ten speakers outlined trends and evidence in the areas of economic sustainability and labour force participation; challenges to implementing flexible workplace policies and models of best practice as well as national and international policy developments in reconciling work and family life.

It was very well attended by stakeholders from various employment sectors including employers, unions, human resource executives, academics, government officials and NGO representatives.


Pictured L to R at the ‘The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment’ Seminar were: Dr. Maryann Valiulis, Director, Centre for Gender & Women’s Studies, TCD; Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Social & Family Affairs; Ms. Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Programme; Ms. Katharine Bulbulia, Chairperson, Crisis Pregnancy Programme

For the full seminar programme, please click here.

To view the opening presentation by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs, please click here. To listen to Mr. Martin Cullen’s speech, please click here.


To view or listen to the speaker’s presentations, please click on the links below:

Speakers

To view the report on the seminar proceedings click on the image below.

Research Summary on Crisis Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment Policy.

A research summary entitled 'Crisis Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment Policy' was published by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme. This summary highlights the link between crisis pregnancy and workplace policy and examines the impact of workplace culture, work-life balance policies and maternity issues on working women's decisions to become a parent. It strongly features the Crisis Pregnancy Programme commissioned research which suggests that when women are faced with a crisis pregnancy situation, their decision about whether to continue with the pregnancy or work or both is influenced by workplace policy and culture. This research summary has been developed for employers, employees, policy makers, union representatives and HR managers. To view the Research Summary 'Crisis Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment Policy', please click here.

For a report on the literature review of issues related to work-life balance, workplace culture and maternity/childcare issues, please click here.

Back to Top