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MICHAEL LOWRY REIGNITED the debate about sexism in Irish politics this week when it emerged he’d written a note to the Taoiseach describing a former PR advisor as, among other things, “not bad looking”.
The independent TD has denied accusations of sexism, saying he’d never had a situation “a woman took exception to a compliment on her appearance, or on her nice dress, or a pair of shoes or a hairstyle”.
But others have condemned his comments, Environment Minister and Lowry’s constituency colleague, Alan Kelly, said it was a “stupid and silly comment”.
Whether it was sexist or not there is no doubt that with the Dáil and Seanad dominated by male politicians there has been a tendency over the years for incidents of sexism – intended or not – to occur.
Here are a few examples from down through the years…
1. “Horsefaced”
Ireland was a different place in 1958 where women were, frankly, considered inferior to men. This was no more obvious than with the ban on married women working in the civil service. As we reported last October, this caused problems for the gardaí and the depleting numbers of female members. Thankfully one TD had a suggestion:
“While recruits should not be actually horsefaced, they should not be too good-looking; they should be just plain women and not targets for marriage”.
2. “Sure that’s women for ya”
In 1992, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds caused controversy when, during heated Dáil exchanges, he responded to heckles from Fine Gael’s Nora Owen by remarking: “Sure that’s women for ya”. It was an off-the-cuff remark that landed him in hot water at the time, but there was no huge offence caused in the eyes of even the female political correspondents at the time.
3. Groping
In 1998, Fianna Fáil minister Liam Aylward was forced to apologise to an usher in Leinster House after groping her on a couch outside the Dáil bar late at night. Aylward was the subject of a complaint to Oireachtas authorities and there were suggestions at the time that female ushers should not work late shifts for their own safety.
4. “Rein her in now and again”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen landed himself in hot water in November 2010 when during heated Dáil exchanges he suggested to then-Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that he try and “rein her in now and again”. He was referring to the Labour’s then-finance spokesperson Joan Burton. He quickly apologised for the remark.
5. “Miss Piggy”
In 2011, Independent TD Mick Wallace was widely condemned for referring to Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell-O’Connor as ‘Miss Piggy’ during a conversation with fellow independent TDs in the Dáil chamber. He later apologised profusely.
6. “Flaming red hair”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny raised a few eyebrows in 2012 when he referred to junior minister Kathleen Lynch’s “flaming red hair”. He was later criticised by political commentator Olivia O’Leary. Kenny was apologetic although Lynch herself didn’t seem to mind:
7. Lapgate
In July 2013, the deadly combination of a late-night sitting and alcohol saw Fine Gael TD Tom Barry haul party colleague Aine Collins onto his lap as the Dáil prepared to vote on abortion legislation. It was an incident which went viral around the world and became known as ‘Lapgate’. Barry later apologised.
8. “Speaking out of her fanny”
Later that same month, David Norris hit out at Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty for comments on the Seanad abolition referendum by describing her as “speaking out of her fanny”. He was widely condemned for the remarks which he withdrew but did not apologise for.
9. “Motherly concern”
In May 2014, outgoing minister Ruairí Quinn’s sarcastic reference to Mary Lou McDonald’s “motherly concern” for the future of Labour party prompted this stinging reply from the Sinn Féin deputy leader:
“If you think that referring to me as a mother or motherly to the cackles of your almost exclusively male audience would go down well with me or mothers who might be watching then you’re very wrong. I don’t appreciate the tone of that remark.”
“I know a sexist undertone when I heart it,” she later added.
Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments…
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“Speaking out of her fanny” …. You couldn’t write this stuff
Do you think some powerful lobby groups have our Dail grabbed too closely ?…Or is that all just someone groping around with no hope of getting married spreading motherly concerns while swishing flaming hair spreading horsefaced innuendo. Time to rein in this carry-on or it will beak the Piggy bank.
Then sure that’s politics for ya !
He was referring to her ass! Not that you’d know it from reading the story
American born and bred sure !
I was quite witty really – she had been rabbiting on about getting rid of the Seanad – he said he was sick of listening to the “Regina Monologues” – so it arose from that pun.
Each and every year that father’s rights are ignored. You forgot that one….
If a male politician had pulled the same stunt as Lucinda Creighton recently (An all male meeting), it would probably feature on this list.
It should feature on this list. Thankfully it was another own goal by Lucinda
The vast majority of meetings in government are all men. Stop crying.
How many meetings in government explicitly state no women?
Only women cry because of little things. Is that sexist?
Yeah but they really are big things – Is that sexist ?
One assumes they wouldn’t cry otherwise …. I could of course be wrong….who knows ?
Speaking of which is it only elephants and humans that cry ?
Can snakes cry for example …..
Fish might cry but it would be really hard to tell.
Any wonder there are such crazy comments when there’s an open all hrs bar down the hall.
How come they are allowed to drink on the job and we’re not ??
We gotta get ourselves elected joanie.
Get wasted whenever ya fancy
Eugene , how cushy would that be and to be able to put it on the ‘tab’ too !
What about all the sexist ads on TV depicting men as fools
Only women can be victims
Reality does not count
nor does it exist within an asylum ….
And people wonder why there aren’t more women in politics….
looks like Politics surely can turn sexism into vulgarity fast…..
10. When they passed a law that turned teenage boys into sex offenders for having consensual sex
11. When a grotesque cartoon of Brian Cowen in his underwear was hung in the national gallery
12. Ivana Bacik calling for gender inequality in sentencing. “Women are a particularly vulnerable prison population and there is a strong case for abolishing prisons for them and replacing them with small custodial units for just a small number of people who have committed crimes of violence,”
Was Tom Barry very, very drunk?
Don’t know let’s meet up over a pint in the bar and discuss it !-You’re buying – well no I’m really buying you just get to use my money to do it !
Rowley Birkin Q.C.
Who’s your friend ?
There’s something fishy about what D. Norris said.
Those big nasty men….
Statistically speaking, all the sexist remarks are aimed exclusively at women of which there is a very small number in the Dail. Alternatively, remarks aimed at TD’s insulting their intelligence are widespread and of course the chamber is full of idiots. This group is far larger and aren’t mentioned at all in the article. What about our poor elected eejits?
Shane Ross was just as bad as Wallace that day.
Odd that Shane Ross has had his part in that conveniently airbrushed away. If ming had said something in that conversation he’d be hung, drawn and quartered.
Yeah but Ming should be hung!!!
Are the lat few instances referred to in the article really sexist, fDavid Norris, Ruari Quinn etc…) those comments had been directed at specific women, in a personal capicaty, and not women as a whole. I would see them as personal insults, rather than generic sexist comments. I do not condone the comments at all and believe they are wholly unacceptable. So the question is are they sexist? Is it sexist if a woman makes a similar comment to just one man? I’m not sure they are. Can you label someone as sexist just for one unacceptable comment.
Some women whether they like it or not always seem to get offended when a comment is made regarding women even when majority of times the woman involved has no issue with it. This male versus female is tiring, equal rights is what’s important.
Of course equal rights is important across the board.
Would be nice if that also extended to equal pay between genders but it doesn’t!
The pay gap is debunked about once a week on this site.
(In the comments section)
Can you add the immigrant council of ireland who are somehow under the dept of justice with their anti men policy of TORL. They are then favoured by the justice committee who are loaded with unelectable feminist and religious senators such as ivana bacic, ronan Mullin and catherine zappone. And what they advise…..our wonderful minister Fitzgerald puts into law. That justice committee ladies and gents http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/jde-committee/members
TORL is anti women as well as men. The only thing it is “pro” is control and religion. Saying that committee is full of feminists is irrelevant. Feminists don’t all believe the same things. Loads of feminists are opposed to TORL.
I agree bout it being anti women also. But the ici, mci et al sont see it
Mary Robinson campaign, remark by Padraig Flynn ‘”new-found interest” in her family ‘
It would seem most comments can be contributed to the govt of the time, be it ff, fg or labour. Tells us something of the govts we elect.
This stuff is Comedy gold …..
i dont know how commenting on somebody’s hair is sexist
God knows what comes out in the Dail Bar with drink in them?
Shocking. voting away the lives of the unborn and them langers.
have your say