Irish women on average live more than a year longer than their European counterparts, according to figures published today.
The figures, released to mark International Women's Day tomorrow, place life expectancy for Irish women at 82.1 years compared to the EU average of 80.9 years.
Spanish and French women have the highest life expectancy at 84.4 years, while Romanian women have the lowest at 76.2.
The figures are part of a range of statistics on the role of women in Europe, compiled by the European Commission. The data covers issues such as life expectancy, employment and participation in politics.
The rate of female employment in Ireland stands at 61.5 per cent (above the EU average of 58.8 per cent). Denmark and Sweden (73.3 per cent) have the highest rates, while Malta (37.5 per cent) has the lowest.
However, Ireland has one of the worst rates of female representation in politics with only 13 per cent of elected representatives and one-fifth of senior government ministers being women.
On average across the EU, one quarter of national parliamentary and senior ministerial posts are held by women.
A public work of art is to be unveiled to commemorate women killed by domestic violence. The sculpture, The Door, will mark the lives of 140 women murdered across Ireland since 1995.
The piece, at the Library Plaza in Ringsend, Dublin 4, is intended to be a beacon of hope for women in south east Dublin seeking sanctuary from physical, sexual or mentally abusive relationships.
Cast in bronze and wood it was created by Joe Moran, from East Wall.
Most recent statistics from Women's Aid reveal that between 1995 and December last year 140 women were killed in Ireland, 88 in their own home.
Additional reporting PA
