How to elect more women – on-line links to the Conference

The Conference took place in Dublin Castle on Friday 20 January 2012.

The purpose of the Conference was to create a catalyst & network of people – so momentum to elect more women in Ireland would advance significantly.

It may help everyone to have a complete set of publicity, reports & commentary – for ‘intelligence’ & building alliances.

These 26 links are not all pro-quotas.  They include links from blogposts critical of the introduction of candidate selection quotas.

But they are mainly supportive of the Gender Quota Bill.

The source of these links was Google Search on Sunday 22 January.

If you know of other links, please send them via Comments – they will be added to the list, so that we have a comprehensive & authoritative  list.

Links for #howtoelectmorewomen :
(1) http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0121/1224310575402.html by Mary Minihan
(2) http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0120/politics.html from RTE News/Ireland
(3) http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0120/1224310515343.html by Kathleen Lynch
(4) http://www.independent.ie/national-news/no-wonder-endas-flamin-gaffe-makes-people-see-red-2996241.html by Carol Hunt @carolmhunt
(5) http://www.build.ie/national_news.asp?newsid=138663 from Build.ie
(6) http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/current-affairs/taoiseach-really-wants-more-babes-in-the-dail-0019829-1from Joe.ie
(7) http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-system-has-failed-to-provide-higher-number-of-women-tds-taoiseach-332522-Jan2012/ from Journal.ie
(8) http://www.independent.ie/national-news/women-see-red-at-kenny-gaffe-2995803.html from Irish Independent: Fionnan Sheahan, Barry Duggan and Edel O’Connell
(9) http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/01/address-by-an-taoiseach-mr-enda-kenny-t-d-to-the-conference-how-to-elect-more-women-in-dublin-castle-conference-centre/?cat=11 from MerrionStreet.ie – Irish Government News Service
(10) http://www.ambafrance-ie.org/How-to-elect-more-women from France in Ireland – Embassy of France in Dublin
(11) http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/20120117- – POLITICS%20CONFERENCE%20PROGRAMME%20REV.pdf/Files/20120117-POLITICS%20CONFERENCE%20PROGRAMME%20REV.pdf  – the Draft Conference Programme
(12) http://www.nwci.ie/news/2012/01/10/nwci-ceo-to-speak-at-how-to-elect-more-women-confe/ from National Women’s Council of Ireland @nwci
(13) http://corkfeminista.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/guest-post-olivias-offside-offence/ @corkfeminista@chrisinCork – by Christine Allen
(14) http://tap.ie/node/150 from Tolka Area Partnership
(15) http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/132705383918851873.html from Irish Labour Party @ivanabacik – Senator Ivana Bacik
(16)http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Government_Press_Office/Taoiseach’s_Speeches_2012/Address_by_An_Taoiseach_Mr_Enda_Kenny_T_D_to_the_conference_How_to_Elect_More_Women_in_Dublin_Castle_Conference_Centre,.html from Department of the Taoiseach
(17) http://www.wrda.net/events.aspx#ElectWomen from Women’s Resource & Development Area@wslobbyist
(18) http://corkpolitics.ie/wp/?p=9118 from Editor CorkPolitics.ie
(19)  http://www.worldirish.com/listening-post/view/howtoelectmorewomen-gets-irish-people-tweeting-413 from WorldIrish.com Della Kilroy
(20) http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/ireland/kfidausncwsn/ from IrishExaminer.com Caroline O’Doherty
(21) http://corkindependent.com/blog/women-as-leaders/ from Cork Independent @corkindo by Cork Feminista @corkfeminista
(22) http://www.ivanabacik.com/archives/634 Ivana Bacik blog
(23) http://www.theweddingplannerireland.ie/wedding_news.asp?newsid=138663 from TheWeddingPlannerIreland.ie
(24) http://www.4ie.ie/irish_news.asp?id=138663 from Irish News
(25) http://www.ichn.ie/events/2012/01/20/how_to_elect_more_women__conference/ from Institute of Community Health Nursing
(26) http://colouringshadows.blogspot.com/2012/01/olivias-offside-offence.html from Colouring Shadows blog by Christine Allen
(27)  http://www.fiannafail.ie/news/entry/7806/#.TxmMTSwPPdw.twitter – Fianna Fail Party by Micheal Martin
(28) http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-there-are-barriers-to-women-participating-in-politics/?utm_source=shortlink from Journal.ie by Claire McGing @claire_mcging
(29)  http://www.finegael.ie/latest-news/2012/01/20/parties-should-adopt-proposed-new-gender-quotas-for-local-elections-%E2%80%93-corcoran-kennedy/ from Fine Gael by Sarah Meade on Laois/Offaly TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
(30)  http://www.finegael.ie/latest-news/2012/01/20/statutory-maternity-leave-should-be-introduced-for-female-politicians-doherty/ from Fine Gael by Sarah Meade on Meath East TD, Regina Doherty
(31)  http://www.thejournal.ie/gender-quotas-welcome-but-token-women-candidates-wont-work-333263-Jan2012/ from TheJournal.ie

(32) http://barbarascully.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-we-up-for-challenge-sisters.html blogpost by Barbara Scully @barbarascully at “From My Kitchen Table

(33) http://www.womenforelection.ie/blog/120-how-to-elect-more-women-ask-them-to-run  blogpost from Women for Election @women4election by Niamh Gallagher

(34) http://passlevelpolitics.blogspot.com/2012/01/gender-quotas.html?m=1 Blogpost on “Pass Level Politics” by Dermot Frost @astarmain

(35) http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2012/01/ireland-to-debate-quotas-for-women-at-next-election/ from “Women’s Views on News” by Alison Clarke

(36) http://mammisammi.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/a-scene-from-the-national-ballroom-circa-1965/ blogpost by @Mammisammi

 

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

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]