I read about this in the Irish Times today, link follows:
[broken link removed]
Interestingly the proposal seems to have been heavily opposed by Lucinda Creighton and a few other female party members, and was defeated 18 to 14. The reason Creighton gave was that until reform was carried out to change the things that prevent women entering politics that it would be for show only. I feel that she's scored an own goal here and as a woman I would have expected her and her female colleagues to support this measure.
True there has to be reform of childcare, working hours and other issues before it becomes easier for women to be in politics- but in introducing quotas and getting a bigger female representation I would argue that those changes will be introduced more quickly. There has to be a change in our cultural thinking too- it's not only women who are affected by childcare and working hours- but somehow it's more acceptable for a woman to require those changes than a man. But if there is a greater representation of women to start with who can demand those changes then that will be a start. This is a vicious circle- until more women are in politics demanding and getting these changes, those changes won't occur. And until those changes occur, fewer women will be in politics. We have to start somewhere.
I wouldn't envisage this being necessary in the long term- when we do get those changes in place, and especially that necessary cultural mind shift, then quotas will no longer have a place in politics. But until then...I'm very disappointed in this result.
[broken link removed]
Interestingly the proposal seems to have been heavily opposed by Lucinda Creighton and a few other female party members, and was defeated 18 to 14. The reason Creighton gave was that until reform was carried out to change the things that prevent women entering politics that it would be for show only. I feel that she's scored an own goal here and as a woman I would have expected her and her female colleagues to support this measure.
True there has to be reform of childcare, working hours and other issues before it becomes easier for women to be in politics- but in introducing quotas and getting a bigger female representation I would argue that those changes will be introduced more quickly. There has to be a change in our cultural thinking too- it's not only women who are affected by childcare and working hours- but somehow it's more acceptable for a woman to require those changes than a man. But if there is a greater representation of women to start with who can demand those changes then that will be a start. This is a vicious circle- until more women are in politics demanding and getting these changes, those changes won't occur. And until those changes occur, fewer women will be in politics. We have to start somewhere.
I wouldn't envisage this being necessary in the long term- when we do get those changes in place, and especially that necessary cultural mind shift, then quotas will no longer have a place in politics. But until then...I'm very disappointed in this result.