Category Archives: Meetings

Blogpost that refer to meetings held and planned

A round up of recent events by Margaret O Keeffe

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On February 2, 2012 the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, was introduced in Seanad Eireann by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD.

 The 5050 group have been actively publicising this very welcome development, which contains provision for candidate gender balancing at general elections.   

The 30% provision outlined in the Bill is very attainable.  Fiona Buckley of the Cork5050 Group states that at the 2011 election just one more female party candidate in 38 of the 43 constituencies would have delivered the 30% quota.

Thus far, February and March 2012 have been really busy and exciting months for theCork5050 Group. 

 A very successful and well-attended Public Meeting was held in the Imperial Hotel on Monday 27 February 2012.  

Our particular thanks to Deputies Jerry Buttimer (FG), Billy Kelleher (FF) and Ciaran Lynch (Lab) for their support. 

 International Women’s Day 8 March 2012 was also a great success.

 Deirdre O’Halloran, Chair of theCork5050 Group, and Margaret O’Keeffe attended the Nasc Coffee Morning, where Deirdre made a brief presentation.

 Fiona Buckley made a Presentation in Belfast on the issue.

 Later that day, Liz Madden, Deirdre O’Halloran and Margaret O’Keeffe attended the Cork Feminista (CF) – Sharing Stories Event – complete with Belly Dancing.  As always, the CF Event was superb – both challenging and inspiring.

 On Sunday 11 March 2012 theCork5050 Group hosted a very successful Table Quiz in the Newport Café Bar at the Paul Street Plaza. 

 Our warmest appreciation for everyone who turned out to support the 5050 Group Table Quiz, a special word of thanks as well to the Staff of the Newport who were really helpful to us.

 Warmest congratulations to the winning Team.  They were absolutely brilliant.

 Special mention for our 5050 member Liz Madden who organised the Event, well done Liz.

Special thanks also to Cllr. Lorraine Kingston who has been a tremendous supporter of the Cork5050 Group.   

The monies raised last night will be used for further awareness raising events.

 We plan to host another Table Quiz in the near future.  We’ll keep you posted.  As always, your support would be most welcome.

The 5050 group at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis this weekend

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The 5050 group is at the Fianna Fail Ard Dheis this weekend. We have been getting some very positive feedback and support. We are also getting the anti arguments which I’d like to deal with if I may.

Quotas are undemocratic – What about the geographical quotas that already exist. Is anyone suggesting that TDs should all be from Dublin – it would save on the mileage expenses!

Quotas work against merit – as Leo Varadker commented on Marian Finucane radio programme a couple of Sundays ago – if getting elected was based solely on merit there wouldn’t be only 15% women in the Dail.

Quotas are an easy way out – The whole point is that women don’t face a level playing field when it comes to participating in politics. Candidate selection quotas are a means of helping women overcome the extra barriers that men don’t face.

There are more important issues – That is a value judgement. I think its a fundamentally important issue. Our Dail needs to be reflective of Irish society and the most glaring gap is based around gender.

There are no barriers for women – This criticism often comes from young women. The evidence is there in the literature – Caring, culture, confidence, cash and candidate selection. Caring is very much seen as a female role and very good we are at it too. Ask Olwyn Enright and Mildred Fox who both left politics citing childcare as the reason. However if equality means anything then we need to be at the decision making table.

Women aren’t suited to Politics – ultimately that is saying that women aren’t equal to men when it comes to decision making.

Women don’t want to be involved in politics – Perhaps that view is reflective of the onerous job that politics has become. Very anti – family. This is a chicken and egg situation. Women can’t do politics because of their caring role and that caring role won’t change unless women do politics – so which comes first?

Thanks to all those who do support a more gender balanced Dail.