Tag Archives: minister

3 days to go: history is being made…

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It feels good.  This is an important week in the history of Ireland. We’re about to take an important step towards gender equality in political life.

It feels good that Minister Phil Hogan will introduce the Gender Quotas Bill in the Seanad on Thursday, February 2nd 2012 at 1145. Good that the government is fully behind this change. Great that Fianna Fail is so much in favour of gender quotas that it’s going to press for them to be extended to the Local Elections 2014.

Let’s welcome opposition to gender quotas…
Of course, there are voices against change – people who want to retain the status quo, conservatives. This is good – it means we have political debate – the interest of citizens will be sparked.  It would not be good if this historic change was made without public debate. The unconvinced sceptics & downright sexists strengthen our argument.

Wasn’t it encouraging…
Wasn’t it remarkable to see Leaders & General Secretaries of Fine Gael, Labour & Fianna Fáil in full support of legal gender quotas.  They’re the people who have to make it happen within their parties – deal with those who are disappointed, frustrated & angry.

Wasn’t it superb to see Sinn Féin & People Before Profit Alliance speaking up in favour of gender quotas – as part of their commitment to gender equality.

Right now, there’s furious internal debate within political parties. Many who dreamed of being selected as candidates in the next General Election have had their dream disrupted.

Imagine…
Imagine if this was 3 days before the introduction of the Bill to give women the vote in Ireland.  Imagine we were back introducing equal suffrage in 1922.
Would we be celebrating?  Of course we would.  Would we be satisfied? Of course we wouldn’t.  We would be saying this is a significant step in the right direction.

What we really want is gender equality in all law-making, all politics.  We want women & men equally involved in the whole process of governing our society.  So we are pleased at what we’ve achieved, but we have more to fight for.

Isn’t that what we’d have said in 1922?

Help the Cause now : Lobby your local councillors, TDs, Senators, party activists, party workers, local papers, radio stations, favourite media…

 

“We Need Candidate Gender Quotas For Local Elections” – says Gemma Hussey

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Hussey calls for Candidate Gender Quota for Local Elections

Speaking at the Launch of the 50:50 Group in the North West on Monday 16th January at Clarion Hotel, Sligo,

Gemma Hussey* said

Since its foundation in the autumn of 2010, the 50:50 group has caught the imagination of women across Ireland.

Groups are springing  up all over the country,  showing the frustration women feel at the virtual exclusion of women from national politics.

I am delighted to be here to launch the arrival of the North West 5050 Group.

Government has promised legislation to ensure a minimum of 30%  of either gender as candidates for the next general election.  That is welcome in itself, as a recognition that Irish governments, like governments in enlightened countries across the world, have a central role in correcting  the imbalance.

But the next general election is many years away. The local elections will be held in 2014.

We know local government is the nursery for future TD’s & Senators.  So it is essential everything possible is done to bring women into local government next year.

The most important step is therefore to strengthen the legislation at this stage to bring forward the quota for the local elections.

With energy and determination, this can be done.  Importantly, it would have the support of Opposition parties since Fianna Fail have already announce their intention to introduce their own kind of gender quotas for the local elections. 

I call on 50:50 all over Ireland to launch an energetic campaign to achieve this important aim.

Lobby the Minister, lobby the Parties, lobby local TD’s & Senators.  Above all,  continue the eloquent & effective use of all kinds of media to bring the message to women all over Ireland:

It is time now to introduce this real political reform for the future of Ireland’s politics. It does not need the Troika’s permission, it does not cost money, but it is centrally important for re-building this broken country. 

Congratulations to the women of the North-West for their initiative in getting this group going.  I look forward with optimism to a great new future for Ireland.

* Gemma Hussey is former Senator, T.D. & Minister for Education. She was a founder member of the Women’s Political Association. [This link has been added to the Press Release by 50:50 Blog Editor-on-Line]