Maria Walsh | Deepfakes, Politics and Women's Health #168

Laura sits down with MEP Maria Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about women, power and what is shifting in Europe right now. Maria has just returned from the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, where for the first time in seventy years member states could not agree a final text on access to justice for women.

She talks honestly about online misogyny, the deepfakes already circulating in Irish secondary schools, conversion therapy, and the website created about her during the 2019 election that is still live today. Alongside that, she opens up about internalised homophobia, the loneliness of political life, and growing up as the gay Rose of Tralee at a time when Ireland was shifting on marriage equality.

The conversation also moves through period poverty, FGM, the underfunding of women's healthcare, the pink tax, and what it would take to close the gap on cardiovascular care, menopause and reproductive health. It is a frank look at the work still ahead and the toll it takes on the women trying to do it.

🔑 Key Points

The UN couldn't agree on access to justice for women — For the first time in seventy years the Commission on the Status of Women failed to find consensus, after the US tabled eight late amendments including the definition of a woman.

Deepfakes are already in Irish secondary schools — 99% of generated deepfakes are pornographic and 96% of victims are women and young girls, with nudification apps making explicit content from a single photo.

Online attacks follow women in politics

A website created during the 2019 election is still live, and Coco's Law catches those who share content but not those who build or host the apps.

Conversion therapy is still legal in most of the EU

Only eight EU countries have banned it, and Ireland's commitment sits inside the programme for government.

Women's healthcare is underfunded

More research funding has gone into male baldness than endometriosis, and there are only six menopause clinics across Ireland.

Cardiovascular care is still built around men

Heart attack symptoms are taught through male presentation, leaving women under-treated when it matters.

The pink tax keeps quietly costing women

Razors, dry cleaning and a 23% VAT rate on sunscreen all add up across a lifetime.

Politics takes a real personal toll

Maria speaks openly about loneliness, comfort eating, and learning to take up space in Brussels.

📚 Resources

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Coco's Law

ILGA-Europe

Belong To

Women for Election

See Her Elected

Riley

Hope Foundation

Ruhama

Esker House

Her Last Search (Croí)

⏱️ Timestamps

03:39 — Back from the UN Commission on the Status of Women

07:33 — Why the US tabled eight amendments at the eleventh hour

12:37 — Deepfakes, disinformation and the 90% statistic

15:04 — Conversion therapy and the EU debate

19:23 — The Burke website that is still live

27:38 — Deepfakes in Irish secondary schools

35:43 — What policy needs to do, and Ireland's chance to lead

40:53 — Cardiovascular care and Her Last Search

45:06 — Pink tax, menopause clinics and the funding gap

49:29 — Why women are still underrepresented in politics

53:01 — Period poverty, Riley and Any Time of the Month

58:25 — Loneliness and learning to take up space

59:30 — Calcutta, Hope Foundation and human trafficking

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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