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LEINSTER HOUSE IS ‘unnatural’ for its lack of gender balance, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.
Speaking at a Dublin conference entitled How To Elect More Women this afternoon, the Tánaiste said that legislation alone will not be enough to see more women elected to office – and compared Leinster House to a boarding school because of the lack of women.
His comments were echoed by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald who said it was “astonishing” that the issue of how to involve women in politics still has to be discussed.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd said that it is likely that Fine Gael will bring in gender quotas to select its party candidates in the 2014 local elections, in preparation for national gender quotas which are to be introduced for the next general election which is due in 2016.
Eamon Gilmore said that aside from legislation, other aspects of Ireland’s political practice and political culture will have to be addressed in order to see more women elected, including the amount of time politics takes from personal lives as well as the intrusion and exposure for both candidates and their families.
He also criticised the “debating society, stylised” nature of the Dáil chamber, likening it to a “debating competition.
The Tánaiste said that Leinster House reminded him of a boarding school because of its’ unnatural feel’ and its lack of gender balance.
He described the upcoming gender quota legislation, which will see political parties lose significant amounts of their state funding unless at least 30 per cent of their general election candidates are women, as “far reaching”.
Representatives from all five of the major political parties spoke at the conference this afternoon – Eamon Gilmore from Labour, Mary Lou McDonald from Sinn Féin, Micheál Martin from Fianna Fáil, Fergus O’Dowd of Fine Gael and Roderic O’Gorman of the Green Party.
The Green Party called on all parties to voluntarily agree to use gender quotas for the 2014 local elections before they are officially introduced for the general election in 2016.
Mary Lou McDonald, TD for Dublin Central and Vice President of Sinn Féin, said that women need to overcome the assumpion that only “men do power” and that “power is a masculine thing”.
She said that she got involved with politics because she looked at the status quo and “didn’t much like it”.
“I believe that people can come into political office and upset the apple cart… that’s why I took my decision [to run for election],” she said.
Micheál Martin echoed the comments made by Eamon Gilmore.
“We can all agree that there is a serious and sustained problem, and the evidence of the last election shows is that it is also a systemic problem,” said Martin.
Martin said that although the parties in the Dáil have changed over the past 30 years, the patterns of representation have remained broadly the same and the number of women elected remains low.
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Gender quotas my arse. If they’re good enough they’ll get elected.
What’s the gender quota for car mechanics? Should we force women to go fixing cars, just because there’s no balance?!
Clearly, there are certain predispositions and reasons why more women isn’t going into politics, it has nothing to do with discrimination, and there’s no reason to insist on it…
What about the female bricklayers?
Ah now. There are many professions where the idea of a gender balance is irrelevant – ridiculous, even. Politics, though, is ABOUT representation, and there’s something wrong with a supposed representative democracy that’s so off-kilter with society.
bollocks, (pardon the pun).
I really don’t understand why Gender Quota is required. If your good enough you get selected to run. Simples.
And thats the truth…
This is a choice – gender quotas or democracy. You can’t say to people that they can democratically elect whoever they wish if it’s not going to be like that.
What, for example, would happen in the instance of a by-election? If the gender quota had been fulfilled exactly (and only exactly, for the purpose of this point), and then a seat becomes vacant by death/retirement/dismissal, would we be forced to elect a woman?
Perhaps the root of the issue is that the type of person that enters politics and excels in the field are usually lying, dirty, cheating bastards. Men (I am one) are quite good at being lying dirty cheating bastards and it takes a certain type to make it professional.
Perhaps women are less adept at being lying, dirty, cheating bastards?
I have to agree with all the posts so far. There’s nothing stopping women getting involved in politics. And as already been said if they’re good enough they’ll get voted in. This gender quota is ridiculous.
Don’t see the point of quotas. The elections are already open for any gender to enter. Much rather if they started fixing out the country than start thinking about more elections!!
Too many teachers in Kildare street as well how about a few business men and a fighting force of hard arsed economists to send to see the bullies in Europe
Women work in a much more collaborative way than men – all the confrontational pissing contests in Irish politics put intelligent women off. Change the system and you will get more women taking part. As it is, the smart ones stay well away.
Garbage
Who really cares what the man says.If he told me the grass was green i would still double check.Thats how bad its got with the lot of them………..
Anyone notice that all five commenters (so far) are opposed to quotas, and all five also happen to be men?
So what your saying is that men have common sense?
Although you could also point out that of all the red thumbs (so far) no one has put up a valid argument for them.
Does gender now devalue one’s opinion? Do our opinions not count as much as women’s?
Check this thread: http://jrnl.ie/332522 – Man arguing vehemently FOR gender quotas and woman arguing with a rival passion AGAINST them.
Regardless of gender, logic should prevail.
I would love to see more women in government, I am just afraid that we’ll end up having seats filled with clueless people of either gender in the name of balance.
I can see Gilmore’s point tough – Christmas party must have been a real sausage fest…
Nice observation, you should consider a career in forensics.
You’ll note that none of the comments you refer to are against women, they’re against gender quotas.
More than half of the voting population in this country are women, so they obviously voted for men.
It’s called democracy. Look it up.
That’s because the girls are watching Sex and the City re-runs!
Neil I know what you’re getting at there. Wouldn’t it be smarter though to highlight the roles of strong women in politics and thus over time they encourage other women to step forward. The 30% quota or no funding is absolutely stupid. In fact, it is actually sexist.
There surely is a better way than this. Even getting female politicians involved with secondary schools and colleges would be a start…
Neil. It’s because the girls are pissed off commentating on this topic because they’re told they’re “bored housewives” or “men haters”. The first time the journal ran this topic it was a good debate but now it’s just turned into a slagging match. Unless the women are agreeing that gender quotas are undemocratic (PC BS) they just leave themselves open to being called sexist.
I’m nearly fed up of it (nearly) but in reality I do think it’s the women voters need to be challenged to vote for women. I don’t think it’s as big an issue for men. In a recent poll for sportsperson of the year on the sports section of this site Katie Taylor won hands down, and risking being called sexist (you might have figured by now I couldn’t care less), and most of them were furious when she wasn’t awarded same.
A temporary quota isn’t a big deal fgs. You can still vote for whomever you want. Let’s face it, they’d probably have more balls then the lads in there now anyway. ATM there’s no balance in the Dáil. I’d love to see some real women in there who’d cut through the posturing, bs and egos in there. Most women are human lie detectors and it would be great to hear a bit more truth.
Sorry for being a bit vulgar but seriously pissed off by the ridiculous arguments I’ve read on similar threads recently, eg., hair colour/tall/short/fat/thin. Inane! But I just thought I’d try and answer your question for you. Bye.
@Réada
Since it’s the second time you’ve mentioned the “bored housewife” incident in a thread I’ve posted in, thought I’d point out a one or two things.
Firstly, it was under an article about the NTC government in Libya and had nothing to do with the issue above. Secondly, you were the first to sully the debate by some ad hominem attack on me for my views on Western support for Islamic fundamentalist governments, a comment that eventually got deleted I might add. Thirdly, I
deliberately posted the “bored housewife” comment to be grossly offensive and then “dared” you to report my comment, having suspected you were the one who was doing so to a lot of my comments.
Fourthly, grow a thicker skin and move on. If what you’re saying is true women aren’t entering politics because those nasty boys say mean things about them, then politics really isn’t a suitable career for them. I think you’re wrong, I don’t have such a low esteem for women to believe that – I feel I should add.
Muc beag.
You mentioned carpet bombing an entire country to which I replied with my favourite nursery rhyme. There was no ad homein attack by me and I have never asked for a comment addressed to me to be deleted. I’m well able to stick up for myself but sometimes find it tiresome and futile. I asked why my comment was deleted and journal replied that my nursery rhyme was out of context and your reply was a personal attack. I wouldn’t have deleted either but hey that’s life! I’m not the one deleting your comments. Swear. :D
It is annoying tho when people get personal in a debate. I have done once or twice but only in retaliation. I’m human, and I take personal attacks personally! I don’t hold a grudge tho and agree with some of your comments, just wish you didn’t sound so cranky saying them.
And lastly, I have soft skin. I moisturise regularly!
Truce???
Truce? As if!
>:-( Feck off muc beag. Don’t try to make me like you. :D
Not sure of Gilmore’s qualifications to speak on this given the shabby treatment both Nessa Childers & Joan Burton have had since labour came to power.
Gender Quotas are nonsence. Another row to deflect fromthe REAL issues .
no need for quotas, merit only please. Anything less is insulting.
Eamonn seems to have forgotten his boss is a woman, a german woman!!!
Whatever about the merits of quotas (and remember that the changes in funding is to give incentives to encourage more parties to run female candidates as opposed to some countries where it is actually illegal not to have a gender balance on party lists) Gilmore is right when he talks about Leinster House being “unnatural”. It in no way reflects Irish society and is very much an old boys club. Actually I’ll rephrase that – a middle class, middle aged, white heterosexual boys club. I do not believe that reflects the will of the voters – It’s all very well to talk about the best person for the job getting elected but in the vast majority of constituencies, voters are presented with a ballot that contains either no female candidates or very few. So voter choice is restricted and the result is a Parliament out of kilter with society as a whole and its credibility suffers as a result. Ordinary voters need to be able to relate to what theu see in the Dail and that is not the case at present.
Also, this is not just about women although the discrepancy is at its worst in that area. For example, there are only 2 openly LGBT TD’s in the current Dail (which in itself was a first) and none among the Ministerial ranks (Junior or Senior). Contrast that with the UK or most western European countries and you see how far we still need to go. The same applies to ethnic minorities. Quotas may be something of a blunt instrument in addressing these issues but they can be part of the solution – a necessary evil if you like.
If we start with quotas to get more women to the Dail to make it more representative of Irish society just for the sake of fairness and not politics, why not next move on to having quotas for LGBT, next ethnic minorities, next tall people, short people, fat people, thin people, bald people, long haired people and so on. Where will it end? And will any of it make one blind bit of difference when ‘we’ the Irish people no longer control our own affairs anyway?
Excellent post. Irish people have never had a problem voting for women – the problem is that there often isn’t a woman to vote for. If gender balance can be brought about – if the homogeny of the Dail is broken – minorities will naturally follow and we might end up with a parliament that actually reflects society.
Lifestyle is a huge factor for getting involved in politics too, of course. Leaving aside women-as-mothers – why do we think we have so many teachers in the Dail? Bluntly, they have the time.
Leinster House is like a boarding school… probably because it’s full of teachers.
Sounds to me that he is bored working in a sausage factory!! Like he gives a shit if it’s Irish men or women he doesn’t bother listening too… He follows his orders handed down by France & Germany just like the rest of our pathetic government.
Total bollocks.
It must be such a relief for Eamonn Gilmore to tell the truth for a change. Our bodies don’t like when we lie…
Maybe ‘Happy Gilmore’ was on about the teeth on that lot when he said “unnatural”.
In all seriousness though, it doesn’t matter about the gender of the cabinet if they are able for the job! Clearly the bunch of donkeys running the show now haven’t got a clue,They are just a bunch of yes men.
Can’t see the point of quota’s as has been stated if their good enough they would be elected. The way the present gang are performing there could be a case for Chimpanzees to be considered for election.
these kites are regularly flown to.distract our attention from.the shambles of a government…if this was a front line Gilmore would be firing smoke to cover the retreat! lads and ladies…ffs GOVERN!
Any chance of a new photo for future re-runs of this debate, or does 33.333% of the front row have to be Ivana Bacik? It shouldn’t be hard to find photos that meet that quota.
Is there any actual support for this among the public? Any polls or anything??
@Adam long. Absolute bollockology!!!
@Niall Campion – What a detailed and witty response to the points I raised. Well done.
Yes I agree with Eamonn gilmore it’s time we put more women into labour.
#ditch the condoms
The only unnatural thing about Leinster House is the amount of gombeen politicians it contains.
When a woman start getting broody, she forgets about her constituents, it’s a well known documented fact, check it up in wikipedia
not everything in wikipedia is fact ;)
Maybe Gilmore is pissed off that there’s no decent women there to join the 40% who like to have fun.
Maybe Kathleen Lynch or her husband will do it for him. More state endorsed excutations … !!!!
How to elect more women? Doesn’t that involve an electorate, with freedom to choose voting for them? Have they considered a ballot paper with only females on it? Bribes? That usually works as well.
Think anyone who goes into politics is a greedy twat, whether they have a mickey or not!
There is plenty stopping women. The system is designed by men, for men, hence favouring men. There needs to be alignment of % of candidates. If the candidates are not up to it they wont get the votes. Quotas are for candidates, not seats per se. Nobody is proposing to run unqualified candidates. Why is it that some of you infer great difficulty in finding amoungst our population an equal % of suitable women to run as there are suitable men? The elephant in the room is (what seems to be for some of you) a certainty that there are simply more capable men than women out there. Sadly if that is the case we have not really come very far since the days of women throwing themselves under carriages & chaining themselves to railings.
countess markieviz
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