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Pierre Zakrzewski, left, is photographed with correspondents Steve Harrigan, Yonat Frilling, and Ibrahim Hazboun in Kyiv, Ukraine. Fox News

France opens war crime probe into death of Irish journalist killed in Ukraine

Pierre was killed alongside Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova when their vehicle was struck by incoming fire near Kyiv.

LAST UPDATE | 16 Mar 2022

FRENCH PROSECUTORS HAVE opened a war crime probe into the death of Franco-Irish Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski.

The probe by France’s specialised anti-terror prosecutors will investigate possible charges of causing “deliberate harm to a person protected by international law” and a “deliberate attack against a civilian who was not taking part in hostilities.”

French prosecutors routinely open cases into the violent deaths of citizens overseas.

Pierre was killed alongside Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova when their vehicle was struck by incoming fire in Horenka, outside of Kyiv, on Monday. Their colleague Benjamin Hall was wounded and remains in hospital.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sent his condolences today, adding that “armed forces have an obligation to protect journalists in accordance with international humanitarian law.”

Other media workers have been killed in the three weeks of conflict so far, including US documentary maker Brent Renaud and Ukrainian reporter Evgeny Sakun.

The Ukrainian parliament’s human rights chief Lyudmyla Denisova said Tuesday that another Ukrainian journalist, Viktor Dudar, was killed in fighting around the southern port city of Mykolaiv.

Pierre’s brothers today said he was “so proud” of being Irish and that he would want to be remembered as a truth teller. 

Greg and Nick Zakrzewski told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne show that the family is “on autopilot” and that they “haven’t processed anything” since they heard the news of his death. 

Nick said the days since Pierre’s death have been a rollercoaster. 

“Just the messages coming in, the memories of everyone coming in and the condolences coming in from everyone, it’s been a real rollercoaster,” he said.

The brothers said they all grew up in Leopardstown in Dublin and attended school and college in the area. Pierre was the only one of the siblings not born in Dublin as he was born prematurely when their mother was on a trip to Paris, Nick said.

“With four brothers, it’s pretty robust. It’s weird, we’re hearing all this stuff about how he was so nice and he was a hero and all this. I mean, there was none of that when we were kids,” the brothers said, 

Tributes

Nick said Pierre’s ambition to be a journalist came from his love of travel and photography. 

“He had a real love for photography, which then evolved into videography, and it was a combination of travel and photography, videography, which then evolved into getting into photojournalism,” he said. 

After college he left and just travelled and on his own a lot. We were used to travel, we spent our childhood going to Poland, going to France for family reunions. It was just an extension of that, and we just thought it was great and we all followed in his footsteps.

Greg said his brother had spent over 10 years working as a freelance journalist, and covered stories in conflict zones around the world, including in Afghanistan.

“All those years he would have been going off on his own. He was shooting this stuff in post ’89 in Afghanistan when mujahideen were fighting between themselves, and he was going in there finding out who you talk to, to get to the head guy of the tribal head.”

He said he decided to work for Fox News due to the “constant pattern of media crews being attacked and being seen as fair game in war time” while it was becoming difficult for freelancers to protect themselves.

“Increasingly it’s becoming very difficult for freelance guys to protect themselves. If you think back to Iraq, all the guys who were kidnapped and subsequently beheaded, they were all freelance who didn’t have the security backup behind them,” he said.

“So I think my brother saw that happening and also saw changes in the media, so he switched to Fox, and I’d say he probably had mixed feelings about that. He was losing a certain amount of independence, now we never spoke about it, but I suspect he’d probably say something along the lines of ‘listen, I’d no choice’.”

Greg said his brother had voiced his concern about the fact that there was “no frontline” in Ukraine. “He always said that that was the dodgiest scenario to be in,” he said.

“The scenario in Ukraine at the moment is you don’t know where the guns shooting at you are, are they in front of you, behind you, left or right, you don’t know.”

Proud of being Irish

Nick said Pierre was brave but not reckless, and described him as “a calculated risk taker”. 

He was so proud of being Irish and he was so proud of the access and the view worldwide of the Irish. It’s a real positive thing. I also think the fact that he’s Irish is a very important part of his moral makeup.

Greg and Nick said their brother could not do his job without helping those involved in the conflicts that he was reporting on. They said Pierre helped many people fleeing Afghanistan to get past checkpoints and had recently found a baby alone on the streets of Kyiv and brought him to a hospital with the crew. 

They said they’re both very proud of their brother, who was “adored” by his nieces and nephews.

“He’s the uncle they all look up to. There’s 11 of them, they all love him, they all adore him,” Nick said.

Greg said he thinks Pierre would like to be remembered as a truth teller.

We were talking amongst ourselves about what would sum him up in terms of his job, and it’s just the truth. The truth, the truth, the truth.

“He was kind of no nonsense. There’s a bit of talk about how he was a hero and he just, he was very good at his job and he took it very seriously. He was a very hard worker.”

“He wanted to be remembered for the images that he created that he got out there. Without those images, people wouldn’t be seeing what’s actually going on, and ultimately, I think what he really wanted to be remembered for,” Nick said.

The brothers said the family is now coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Fox News and Pierre’s wife about bringing his body home. 

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7 Comments
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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:37 PM

    It’s about time somebody took on this stupidity of discrimination. Wrap it up in whatever politically correct bullshite you like, gender quotas are nothing more than discrimination.

    911
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    Mute Tom Voz
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:48 PM

    I would be seriously surprised if the common sense prevailed. It’s the ruling class, including the courts, that pushes political correctness, gender quotas etc down our throats. Now it will be legalised. This is how equality dies. Freedom of speech is already dead in the West. Brave New World.

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    Mute James Darcy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:08 PM

    @Tom don’t be so dramatic. Yes gender quotas are in my opinion extreme when so much more could be done socially to even out the sexes however to say free speech is dead is idiotic!

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    Mute Tim Outrage
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:14 PM

    It’s the media that push pc. Sure this entire site is dedicated to ultra liberal fascism

    246
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:14 PM

    Free speech is alive and well. That fact you get to say the above sentence proves it. Yes we got some pretty tight defamation laws but I assume you are eluding to something else ?

    82
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:15 PM

    Your understanding of liberalism and fascism is clearly pretty elementary, your statement juxtaposes itself

    50
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:19 PM

    I think there should be a minimum quota of red heads, tall people, people with high IQs (there are too many stupid politicians) and a maximum quota of publicans, lawyers and teachers and people who can’t pronounce antidisestablishmentarianism.

    186
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:24 PM

    I didn’t know red heads got paid less than non red heads

    37
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:27 PM

    Women should join parties and contest election’s with parties that give equal pay & cover pressing issues for women. This would mean rather than useless quotas women naturally get involved themselves. Fianna fail has a lack of women because it’s always been an old boys club, forcing them to choose women for the sake of it won’t do the party, the women or the constituency any good. I’m pretty sure women are statistically most popular as independents anyway. Look at clare daly, joan collins, Maureen osullivan & until recently you had Catherine Murphy & rosin shorthall as independent voices also.

    70
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:28 PM

    Elude means to evade; to allude means to mention someone or something in an indirect manner.

    52
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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Please stop promoting the myth of unequal pay between the sexes it’s be debunked many many times.

    146
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:34 PM

    I’m advocating for the gingeys, justice for all

    21
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:41 PM

    The best person for the job should be on the list. Not been giving the right to vote for someone because they belong to a certain group is just wrong.

    134
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    Mute Jonny Baxter
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:44 PM

    Vote Left Ireland – would you say that the economy is alive and well in Ireland since anyone can get a job?

    20
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:51 PM

    Chris by the sounds of things she had the best credentials of the two, both were county councillors but she obviously got the nod for the Europeans because she’s a good candidate

    25
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:56 PM

    Those in direct provision, with a criminal record or no fixed address find it impossible to get a job, bar direct provision of course where you are simply not allowed.

    13
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:56 PM

    “Is the economy alive and well” ? It’s not dead I suppose. It’s performing better than ever for the top 10%, Fine gael management if the economy has increased the wealth poor gap greatly. Also we are over reliatiant on flexi multinationals who are more than happy to leave if a cheaper option opens up in Europe.

    39
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    Mute Siobhan Breen Malone
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:59 PM

    exactly what I was going to say, I dont care if theyre male or female – once they can do the job!

    74
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    Mute Tom Voz
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:21 PM

    @James Freedom of speech alive and well? Do you think that islamosceptics have the same access to the mainstream media as the liberal left. No, they are being labelled racists and islamophobes. Vague hate speech laws are being used to drag them through courts. Whose events and lectures get cancelled, how many European newspapers reprinted the Mohammed cartoons, how many artists dares to challenge Islam while ripping Christian symbols apart (I’m atheist myself btw)? No my friend there is freedom of speech only when you speak ‘correctly’

    52
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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:07 PM

    People expecting him to win should be aware that the Supreme Court has already ruled that it’s ok to prosecute underage it’s for having sex – but not girls

    http://www.thejournal.ie/underage-sex-ruling-shows-inequality-of-law-ispcc-364351-Feb2012/

    53
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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:35 PM

    Anyone know how in law he proposes to challenge it?

    16
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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:56 PM

    Probably on the grounds of the constitutional guarantee of equal treatment before the law

    47
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    Mute Catherine Mc
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:38 PM

    Agree

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:49 PM
    12
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    Mute Diane Walsh
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:04 PM

    Preferential treatment on the basis of sex…being elected undemocratically on the basis of sex as her ticket couldn’t be contested….financial sanctions being imposed to a democratic process to name a few

    34
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:20 PM

    Niall, that’s not “merely” underage sex, that’s gang rape. “It is alleged that they had sex with her individually, that she could not “physically say no” and that she was scared.”

    23
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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:16 PM

    Certainly, Daisy. the article also describes the boys as “men” when only one is over 18.

    “Three of the accused men involved are aged 16, while the other two are aged 17 and 18.”

    23
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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:26 PM

    “Mr Mohan says gender quotas, age quotas, racial quotas, socio-economic or religious quotas, are purely “political discrimination” which is expressly prohibited by the Constitution.

    The State has no right by law to use public resources to encourage the outcome of Dáil elections, Mr Mohan will argue.

    It is likely that Mr Mohan’s legal team will seek to have an early hearing date for the case given that the General Election is less than five months away.”
    http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1107/740314-legal-action-fianna-fail/

    22
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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:40 PM

    They aren’t charged with rape. They’re charged with having sex with an underage girl. My point is that the law criminalises boys for having consensual sex and protects girls.

    Think about that – the state imprisoning children for having consensual sex. Now imagine the law only criminalised girls and protected boys. Imagine the outrage.

    Rapists should be charged with rape. Rape is not sex.

    28
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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:45 PM

    “Free speech is alive and well. That fact you get to say the above sentence proves it.”

    What a measure of free speech. Because someone get to voice a pretty unobjectionable opinion is not evidence that free speech is alive.

    In Ireland and the west in general free speech is truly dead; but the censor is not always the state. Censorship has been outsourced to the easily offended. left wing PC advocates and students unions etc.

    The state does a good job to with its so called hate speech laws. The west is a strait jacket society.

    30
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    Mute BMJF
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:29 PM

    A new comprehensive study in the USA has actually shown that when you strip out variations in job type, role & level and actually look at women & men equally qualified doing exactly the same job there is just the slightest pay gap of 2-3% difference in pay (still shouldn’t be there but certainly not a headline figure)

    11
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Nov 8th 2015, 6:11 PM

    Loren – the law does not “criminalise boys for having consensual sex”. They are criminalised for having sex with girls who are under the age of consent, and who therefore can not possibly have given consent. Therefore it is not consensual.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 10th 2015, 5:07 PM

    And the girls done exactly the same thing because……..?

    1
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:34 PM

    This madness must stop. The courts will decide in his favour.

    210
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:39 PM

    If he’d any sense he’d claim gender fluidity, and say he felt like a woman 185 days of the previous year. Be a champ, wear a dress

    168
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:42 PM

    Be cheaper, If he had a sex change and ran?

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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:42 PM

    Ye it would, but then that wouldn’t massage his ego

    29
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:43 PM

    Or his sense of entitlement for that matter

    42
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    Mute Cardio Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:44 PM

    I’m species fluid. Today I identify as Prionnsias the badger.

    80
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    Mute Wrath of Cheney
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:49 PM

    Todd the irony in that statement is of course trans people are some of the most self entitled people on the planet.

    63
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:52 PM

    Ok. That doesn’t constitute for this guy being a pompous twit

    23
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    Mute Ben Connolly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:56 PM

    I told him already he should run as an independent

    11
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:58 PM

    Next time you’re talking to him tell him she sounds like the better candidate anyway

    17
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    Mute Cardio Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:53 PM

    An independent twit

    8
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    Mute Gerry Healy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:01 PM

    @ Toddicus. Look in the mirror before you call any one a pompous twit…

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:22 PM

    If he’d had a sex change, Stephen, he’d be demoted to making the hang sangwitches and tae for the cumman’s meetings.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:47 PM

    I doubt that daisy, it’s all contracted out now and the best briber gets it!

    18
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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:50 PM

    There are probably sufficient numbers of virtue-signallers to get him elected if he did.

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    Mute Dónal Campbell♛
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:50 PM

    Having a penis can cut you out of the election race. Having a vagina (pretty much) is assumed to be worthy of standing for election. Gender quotas should be abolished because they are directly sexist towards men and patronizing towards women. I understand the whole ‘men have conquered all for too long’ argument and I think that’s bull. We live in a democracy – and it shouldn’t be tainted with ego-pushing, self-serving and rampant political correctness, especially in our legislation.

    144
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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:49 PM

    Gender quotas are ridiculous. You’re either good enough for the job or you’re not, regardless of sex. It will actually act as a cloud over female TD’s after the next election…

    105
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:54 PM

    It is ridiculous because the same old faces keep on getting re-elected and members of parties follow the party line. So when you vote for a candidate you are really voting for the party. The candidates have no free will once they accept their party…

    30
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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:39 PM

    That’s called democracy…

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:59 PM

    When you join a party you don’t automatically switch off. You debate issues and put forward policy proposals. The more people in a party with 1 member 1 vote the more democratic the decision. Anyone is also free to leave any party as they see fit, or move to another one etc… Irelands democratic system while not perfect is one of fairest systems known worldwide. At least we don’t have first past the post like the UK

    11
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:12 PM

    I bet, a lot of women won’t vote for their own sex in next election and we’ll end up with party zombies! It’s in their nature, Women hate each other beneath it all and pretend otherwise!

    14
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:26 PM

    Women, like any sex will largely vote based on what parties will leave them in a better scenario than they are now. Cannot find any evidence to suggest and of your outlandish claims.

    29
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:49 PM

    That women are judgemental and cut each other to shreds, you should get out more lefty and turn off your PC!

    11
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    Mute Michael Doyle
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:32 PM

    And this my friends is why you don’t leave fisnna fail back into power again. It’s an old boys club afraid of change. Take Canada now. New,young, charismatic, liberal leader who’s first act was to introduce a gender neutral cabinet. Imagine kenny or Micky martin doing that. Conservative old Ireland would go ape shit.

    83
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    Mute Hilary French
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:36 PM

    Either you have democracy or you don’t – quotas are by their very nature anti-democratic and discriminatory

    289
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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:40 PM

    Michael his government is made up of more men than women yet his nice PC cabinet discriminates against men. If it was the other way around you can be damn sure the wimin of twitter would be howling their outrage. Were the women members picked because they are right for the job or because their sex organs are on the inside?

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:42 PM

    I think he’s right Michael to challenge it – something not right about it. He might win it. Will be interesting case.

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    Mute TheBull
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:31 PM

    While I agree that FF shouldn’t be let anywhere near government again, I hope he wins his case. Being selected because you are a woman is wrong.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:37 PM

    Hopefully, if found unconstitutional, every other bloke will launch proceedings to but this time claiming against their own parties. I’d love nothing more than to see bankrupting awards made against them. Of course, that won;t happen, but a fella can dream.

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    Mute Des Doran
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:11 PM

    It should be the best person for the job, the local electret should be left to decide ,
    Gender quotas are discriminatory ,
    To both sexes ,
    Next we will be told we have to have a religious quota.

    82
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:15 PM

    We used to have a religious quota. 100% Catholic. Glad those days are behind us.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:23 PM

    Nobody who believes in sky gods, devils, hell & heaven or leprechauns should be allowed stand. They’re clearly mad.

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:29 PM

    Anyone should be allowed stand as everyone has the right to vote for someone better.

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:43 PM

    @Vote Left Ireland 100% Catholic?! Try reading some Irish political history books.

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:00 PM

    I wouldn’t take that point so literal

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:23 PM

    It’s being taken literal isn’t it?

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:40 PM

    Either that or people think it’s another formulaic and predictable jibe at Catholicism.

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    Mute Denis Maher
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:47 PM

    If you were facing the prospect of having to vote for a missus Doyle candidate knowing an albert Einstein wanted to run but wasn’t allowed to, would you vote for her coz I wouldn’t. Be careful what you wish for comes to mind.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:10 PM

    Or Sarah Palin over Daniel O’Connell….

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:04 PM

    Whilst for the large part I agree gender quotas are not the solution I do have to say this. Mary Fitzpatrick failed the last two dublin central elections & the European one for a very good reason. The last fianna fail TD in dublin central was Bertie Ahern.

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    Mute Wrath of Cheney
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:41 PM

    Represented by one of the finest barristers in the land, gender quotas will be finished.

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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:10 PM

    “”"THE WAR ON GENDER QUOTAS”"”"

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    Mute Adrian
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:34 PM

    Can’t he just throw on a dress and call himself Brianna?

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:52 PM

    They don’t do honesty, Politicians I mean!

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:57 PM

    Good man Brian.
    We support you all the way.

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    Mute .
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:04 PM

    Problem is women don’t vote for women candidates in enought numbers as if is This is scam to get around that fact

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:47 PM

    That’s not to suggest that women ‘don’t do logic’.

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:47 PM

    The ‘feminist’ angle must be quite difficult to factor in to any political analysis.
    I remember prior to the American presidential campaign where Hilary Clinton was perceived as a political certainty then Obama stole her crown, I was having a discussion at a dinner party with a group of American women who in general could be classified as peace activists.. The conversation was about world peace and the horrors of war.
    Later when it moved on to the White House debate I pointed out that given the fact that Hilary was a hawk on foreign policy and intuited they would be voting against her on those grounds they looked at me with incredulity and replied almost in unison:
    ‘Hilary is a woman….we will be voting for her’.
    No amount of reasoning could convince them of the of the illogical nature of their stance.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:34 PM

    When Hilary played the woman card against Obama her support actually dropped. She hasn’t made the same mistake this time by comparison. When she played the woman card her male support dropped overnight. It didn’t attract the upswing she thought it would. When Obama mentioned women, his support increased.

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    Mute Vincent O Mahony
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:18 PM

    I hope he wins. But I think the people who make these stupid rules will need to feel some pinch themselves before that happens unfortunately.

    So note to anyone running for election who stands against quotas: You will get my vote and I’m sure a lot of others!

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    Mute For Connolly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:45 PM

    Yes, because the best way to challenge an effort to drag the misogyny of Dail politics kicking and screaming into the 21st century is to use a 1937 constitution which acknowledges that the common good requires that a womans place and duties are within the home.

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:50 PM

    Scripted as usual. SF HQ will be pleased…

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:29 PM

    Or more recent directives which require hard working men to step aside so a woman can take his place. Yeah. 21st century indeed.

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    Mute For Connolly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:05 PM

    @ Niall: I probably should have qualified the tongue in cheek remark. I think that the gender quota directive currently in place is as ill though out and ham fisted a way to fix the issue as everything else this government has done. Its a nuanced and complicated problem that requires more thinking than the “do ‘A’ or you don’t get ‘B’” we now have. I was pointing out the irony of a man using a constitution which views womens role and duties as being within the home, to prove he’s being discriminated against.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:12 PM

    Fair enough.

    I wonder when they do actually remove it, as per constitutional convention recommendation, how it will actually play out. I can see single mothers being targeted by social welfare and I can see successful court cases going in too about single mothers taking preference on housing lists. That’s a long-standing practice that may be up for lawyers.

    I’d say the reality is the days of popping out kids for a living like a minority do, will be well and truly over. it’ll be the kids that pay though.

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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:34 PM

    “Challenge away you sexist pig”

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:40 PM

    Who pays McDowells fees??? He would charge at the very least around 500/600 per hour!

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:50 PM

    Collection with buckets outside mass on Sunday. Brown envelopes accepted.

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    Mute Colm Flaherty
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:36 PM

    And the anti PC backlash begins. I definitely don’t support him, but it’s things like this that I fear when I see what’s right being railroaded in. It may be the right thing to do (I support quotas myself as a booster to get things on balance) but if you change too quickly, those who are wrong will fight you back. You can’t stop them existing, and you can’t ignore them. You need to convince them, then what is right becomes a no brainier.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:12 PM

    “those who are wrong will fight you back” – He’s absolutely right to fight this. It was nothing but discrimination and for once I’m glad to see Michael McDowell’s name involved too,. Best of luck to him. I’m glad he’s fighting sexism.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:48 PM

    “And the anti PC backlash begins.” – Do you even listen to yourself?

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:20 PM

    ” those who are wrong will fight you back. You can’t stop them existing, and you can’t ignore them.

    I think the Journal has reached it’s quotas for self righteous comments today!

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    Mute Keano
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:25 PM

    Fair play to him. Hopefully he’s successful

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    Mute Isaac Smyth
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:40 PM

    How about the citizens vote for candidates based on their policies and actions rather than someone being told to stand aside because he or she doesnt have the right genetalia?

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    Mute Barry Burke
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:11 PM

    This far left idea of every single thing is life has to be completely equal in every way shape and form , is really just bullshit
    Nobody is stopping any women running for election.

    We as a country are just trying to artificially make things equal,

    Vote left ireland, you were shiting on about people with no fixed address not able to get job. Please tell me where the fûck are your employer suppose to send payslips and other correspondences

    If an employer dosent want you working for his company, guess what, it’s there company , they an and should be able to hire who they want.

    Stop trying to change culture to pretend like everybody are carbon copies of each other

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:52 PM

    But this comes from the E.U. and that is why he is going to fail, it is an E.U. Directive…

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    Mute Margaret Daly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:54 PM

    Spot on Michael

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:18 PM

    People here do not realise that nearly all the regulations here are from Berlin, Frankfurt or Brussels… They could look them up if they weren’t so lazy here…

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    Mute Mance M. T.
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:09 PM

    Which directive is this Michael? As I understand it there was a directive discussed for having 40% gender quotas on company boards, which has since been scrapped. I can’t find any directive about political representation

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:25 PM

    http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/ireland_in_the_eu/impact_of_eu_on_irish_women/index_en.htm#5
    http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/files/strategy_equality_women_men_en.pdf
    “Despite progress towards a gender balance in political decision-making, much remains to
    be done: on average, only one in four members of national parliaments and ministers of
    national governments is a woman.”
    “The EU will continue to use its development policies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”.
    “Gender roles are learned behaviours in a given society/community or other special
    group that condition what activities, tasks and responsibilities are perceived as male
    or female. Gender roles are affected by age, class, race, ethnicity or religion and by the
    geographical, economic and political environment. Changes in gender roles often occur
    in response to changing economic, social or political circumstances. “

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:29 PM

    http://www.genderequality.ie/en/GE/Pages/WP14000011
    http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_2010-2014/president/news/documents/pdf/20100305_1_en.pdf
    “Women still do not have full access to the sharing of power and decision-making.
    Gender balance in decision-making, in political and economic life and in the public
    and private sectors, will help Europe shape more effective policies, develop a gender-aware knowledge-based society, and create a stronger and more prosperous democracy.
    We reaffirm our commitment to pursue the fairer representation of women and men
    in positions of power in public life and the economy. We will use our powers,
    including Union incentive measures, to promote a greater share of women in
    positions of responsibility.
    At our own level, we will commit to making all efforts in order to improve gender
    balance within the Commission. “

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:34 PM

    http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-decision-making/database/politics/index_en.htm
    http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/119628.pdf
    “THE COUNCIL urges action at Member State and, as appropriate, Union level in the following
    fields: …
    d) promote women’s empowerment in political and economic life and advance women’s entrepreneurship;”
    COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN UNION
    EN
    Council conclusions on the European Pact for gender equality for the period 2011 – 2020

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:43 PM

    Mance M.T.
    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0614:FIN:en:PDF
    “In its Women’s Charter 25 of 5 March 2010, the European Commission underlined that women still do not have full access to the sharing of power and decision- making in political and economic life and reaffirmed its commitment to use its powers to promote a fairer representation of women and men in positions of responsibility. Improving the gender balance in
    decision-making was defined by the Commission’s strategy for equality between
    women and men 2010-2015 26 as one of its priority tasks. ”
    http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1118_en.htm

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:49 PM

    http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_376_en.pdf
    “The European Commission adopted a Women’s Charter on 5 March 2010 and committed
    to strengthening gender equality in all its policies. As pointed out in the Women’s
    Charter, ‘gender balance in decision-making, in political and economic life and in the
    public and private sectors”
    “Gender imbalance in decision-making positions is observed in various domains: politics,
    economics, science and research. ”
    “However, differences may be found when looking at the political positioning of the respondents”

    http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1118_en.htm

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:52 PM

    http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/gender-equality/news/121114_en.htm
    Women in politics belongs to the equality sectors from the E.U. directives and rulings.

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    Mute Mance M. T.
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    Nov 8th 2015, 12:17 AM

    Thanks for all the info! Particularly the first report, it’s an in-depth analysis.

    BUT unless I’m mistaken, there was no Directive (which are legally binding) in there. Gender equality is a value the EU is trying to promote, but it hasn’t passed any regulation forcing the government to introduce quotas

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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Women of Ireland or at least those tempted to pat themselves on the back over gender quotas, please note that our political parties do not actually desire to have more women in their gang, they just don’t want to lose FUNDING. Sorry to burst your political bubble!

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:33 PM

    Sweetie, while you and the rest of the men in this thread are having a shitfit over girls in the clubhouse, the women are laughing heartily at the apoplexy. I’m not in favour of gender quotas, but the umbrage and outrage over a poor man being forced to go to court to stop the girls muscling in on his turf is hillarious.

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    Mute Cal Cryton
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:31 PM

    Daisy, this man was prevented from running because of his gender. The fact that you or any woman would support that is an absolute disgrace. “Progressives” will never change the nature of moral certainties.

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    Mute Garwig
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:45 PM

    Fair play to him, time this blatant discrimination of men stopped

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    Mute Con
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:38 PM

    1955 called it wants its Fianna Fáil member back

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    Mute Gerard Smyth
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:23 PM

    Can we please find the best canidate for the job….not because they have to be black,gay,women,transgender or any other form of discrimatation..If the best Canidate happens to be from mars and is transgendered ..so be it ..qualifactions ..

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    Mute Liam Lyons
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:58 PM

    To me it’s irrelevant who represents a political party in the dail. Male or female they will toe party line and if in government act as nodding ducks to pass through legislation, whether they agree with it or not

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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Nov 7th 2015, 3:35 PM

    He needs to take this up with his party . And not waste the resources of the courts .

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    Mute Aidan Humphries
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    Nov 7th 2015, 10:02 PM

    Can’t wait for these rules to apply to teaching & nursing.

    Imagine a man getting a job as a teacher just because he’s a man. The hairy bra burning feminists will be all over that one

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:27 PM

    Calm down, boys. Go get the women in your lives (probably your mammy) to make you a nice cup of tea, or iron your shirts, or something. You’ll be grand.

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    Mute Cal Cryton
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:36 PM

    Daisy, this man was prevented from running because of his gender. The fact that you or any woman would support that is an absolute disgrace. “Progressives” will never change the nature of moral certainties.

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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:03 PM

    Infamy!

    Infamy!

    They all have it

    In for me!

    I worry more about their ability to reflect their constituents desires,

    rather than slavishly follow the Party Whip, whose direction emanates from their “Donars”

    Principles!

    We have principles!

    And if you don’t like those…we have some more!

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    Mute Shane McKenna
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:49 PM

    Yes. It’s embarrassing for the party, and electorally damaging in the longer term, to have zero female TDs. An overwhelmingly male dominated political party will be perceived as backwards and out of touch. It’s unsurprising that it is trying to counteract that perception.

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    Mute Cal Cryton
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:36 PM

    Not at all embarrassing to have zero women TD’s if zero women are nominated in a free and fair contest.

    The childish notion that everything in the public sphere needs to demographically reflect that which elects it needs to be put to bed once and for all. Ability and merit are all that matters.

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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Nov 7th 2015, 6:33 PM

    Surely he should be taking finna fail to court as they made the decision to shaft him just to get state funding – as always with ff cash is king.

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    Mute Shane McKenna
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:58 PM

    It’s not a question of gender equality for Fianna Fáil. The quota system is a means to an electoral end. The party knows it won’t be electable long-term without female representation. Whether or not this man is his party’s best candidate in his individual area is irrelevant. The party decides overall state-wide strategy, part of which is to put forward more women for election. Under our system, the courts won’t be able to tell a political party what electoral strategies it can and can’t adopt.

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:22 PM

    @Shane McKenna

    Ah, now, you don’t really think that having more female candidates will get FF more seats, do you?! Why would you think that a female FF TD would be better than a male one? Look at Beverley Flynn.

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    Mute Joey Gee
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    Nov 7th 2015, 4:15 PM

    I have to admit, once, when seeking support for a client I phoned Mary Fitz. who was very helpful, she was once the ‘kicking boy’ (sic) for Dub. SC Fianna Fail but it seems this cohort are still there since, given her hard work on behalf of constituents over many years, she still has to be imposed upon a CDC which appears bentmon rejecting her, then again, that’s democracy so, good luck to the other potential, can’t see this Constitutional challenge working in Irish Court’s though.

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    Mute Luke Broghan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 11:28 PM

    This is all the governments fault

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Nov 8th 2015, 1:06 AM

    Brilliant women were simply not let into the IQ 200+ world of Mathematics simply because the men would not let them in.
    Some brilliant women managed to break through the glass ceiling.
    At least the new British passport has an image of Ada Lovelace on it.

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    Mute Angelina Paul
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:06 PM

    Wow Good Day,
    Am the happier woman on earth please ready my testimony, my name is Angelina Paul am 25 years old live in United Kingdom, i graduated 2010 been looking everywhere for job and know of the companies employed me, until i saw a testimony of a lady called Cecilia who testify of okotemple that helps her get back her husband from a girls.

    Then i copy the email on the testimony and i wrote my problems also to the email, a man reply to me and tells me all i need to do, i trust him and i do it, after 3 days of it companies which i submitted my Curriculum Vitae(CV) many years started calling me to resume work.

    Now i am a worker in Royal Bank of Scotland here in United Kingdom. He also told me that he has RITUALISTIC SPELL, POPULAR AND FAMOUS SPELL,CURE DEAF PEOPLE and can also CURE ANY DISEASE IN HUMANS LIFE. Trust him, his name is Dr Okouta and his email address is okotemple22@yahoo.com just write him with your problems or situations.

    Good Luck
    Angelina

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    Mute Joachin Peiper
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:20 PM

    Thanks Angelina…sounds African…must be genuine so..clicking now..

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Nov 7th 2015, 2:47 PM

    The Catholic Church won’t like you muscling in on their racket

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    Mute Unsionn
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:10 PM

    @Angelina…wtf

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 7th 2015, 5:29 PM

    I think you’d get a better response if you posted in this thread : http://www.thejournal.ie/nuns-praying-non-stop-1878-wisconsin-perpetual-adoration-2428909-Nov2015/

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    Mute Cyril Butler
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    Nov 8th 2015, 4:20 AM

    I do believe gender quotas can help. 30% women in politics is hardly positive discrimination. Im sure there is wide spread sexist attitudes in politics. Not just a feminist issue. The lack of women in politics spawns political mutants like Maggie Thatcher and Hillary Clinton who feel they have to morph into ruthlessness in order to succeed politically. Quotas should apply for 20 years after that if they fail the idea should be abolished.

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    Mute Rita Cahill
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    Jan 15th 2016, 11:05 PM

    Michael McDowell: Dail gender law unconstitutional
    There is no basis for legislation telling parties what kind of candidates it should offer, writes Michael McDowell

    PUBLISHED
    20/11/2011

    1
    THE present Tanaiste and Labour leader, Eamonn Gilmore, has promised to publish a bill designed to “encourage” political parties to nominate more women candidates. Under its terms, parties that do not nominate at least 30 per cent women candidates (rising to 40 per cent in seven years’ time) will immediately lose half of their Oireachtas funding.
    A brave and intelligent Labour woman TD, solicitor Joanna Tuffy, has condemned her leader’s proposal. And with good reason, as we will presently see. My experience of Deputy Tuffy in her time in the Seanad was that she was one of the most skilful, reasonable, pleasant (and sometimes dogged) contributors in the legislative process there.
    It is noteworthy that neither of the Government parties which together have such a massive majority in the Dail is content to take the far simpler and more obvious course of amending its own rules to give effect to such gender quotas. That would leave the other parties free to decide whether they wanted to follow suit. It must, Mr Gilmore tells us, be done by law for all parties.
    I feel that I can speak with some little knowledge and experience on this issue. I was a member of a party — the Progressive Democrats — which far more than any other in the history of the State achieved gender-balance in outcome consistently over two decades. It did so without any form of tokenism. There was no women’s section, no gender quotas, and no rules or procedures which dealt with gender-balance at all. Men and women in that party simply practised instinctively what other parties now appear to want to legislate for or posture about at the taxpayers’ expense. We did not need a law to tell us what to do.
    I strongly share Joanna Tuffy’s concern that this piece of promised legislation is merely a piece of tokenism and window dressing. It is likely to set back the cause of would-be women politicians by creating an impression that they are not selected on merit. And in any event it is highly unlikely to have any serious effect, as it is easy to add “paper” candidates to party tickets in multi-seat constituencies creating the false appearance of a gender-balanced ticket, but allowing the local party to allocate and use its resources to promote its most electable candidate regardless of any legal quota.
    But regardless of the effectiveness of such a law, a more fundamental issue arises.
    Have the Government parties the constitutional right or power to impose their view on gender balance on other parties by a law which discriminates radically between compliant and non-compliant parties in the way they are funded by the Exchequer?
    Where is the constitutional justification for such a piece of “positive discrimination”? (I use that phrase guardedly as the idea is in reality a proposal to penalise parties which fail to achieve the desired candidate profile and for them will be “negative discrimination”). I believe that there is no constitutional authority for such discrimination — whether it is described as positive or negative.
    Our Constitution, which wisely makes no explicit reference to political parties at all, provides that the political process at every level, including voting, standing for and being elected to office, is open to women and men alike, and accords to all of us the unfettered gender-equal right to stand for election and to choose our public representatives in Dail Eireann. Political parties are free associations which may or may not agree with social quotas in electoral law.
    The Government must first answer this preliminary question. Is it open constitutionally for a majority in Dail Eireann, even with the support of a majority at the last election, to introduce discriminatory funding into the political process in pursuit of their particular policy as to the type or types of people who they feel that the people should elect or who should be nominated at the next election to the Dail.
    If you ask yourself whether a future all-woman feminist political party should receive only half the political funding of, say, a future anti-immigrant political party which fielded a gender-balanced slate of candidates, the answer to the constitutional question becomes pretty clear.
    And if you extend the mistaken legal thinking behind the present Government’s proposal to cognate “equality policy” areas, the constitutional infirmity of allowing a future temporary Dail majority with one outlook to use taxpayers’ money to bend the electoral process towards outcomes favoured by them becomes all the more clear.
    Such social quota electoral legislation, if constitutionally permissible, could, with equal justification, be used to financially favour parties with a minimum number of candidates who come from different classes or groupings or minorities.
    I have no doubt that there are already NGO discussion groups meeting to consider the possibility of class quotas, Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender quotas, Traveller quotas, immigrant quotas, unemployed quotas — the potential list is endless.
    By logical extension, parties which “fail” in these equality areas could and should also be open to being penalised financially in the allocation of Exchequer revenues.
    There is already a volume of very clear constitutional jurisprudence concerning the discriminatory misuse of taxpayers’ money to attempt to influence the outcome of referendums and elections.
    I believe very strongly that the proposal to halve by law the funding of any party which fails to gender-balance its candidate slate is clearly unconstitutional. The point that is forgotten by some is that the people are sovereign in our constitutional order. Dail Eireann has no legitimate function in applying State funds to influence the outcome of referendums or elections. There is simply no constitutional basis for a law telling political parties what kind or range of candidates it should offer for election.
    In case the Government is content to assume that nobody would have sufficient legal status (“locus standi”) to challenge such a law if enacted before the next election, they should think again. I believe that every citizen has the right to expect that political parties are left free to choose their candidates and certainly that any citizen is entitled to protect his right within his party to participate in a free choice on candidate selection without the threat of financial retribution by the State.
    In passing, we should not forget that the ‘People Got The Referendum Wrong And Can’t Be Trusted’ brigade are always with us and never go away. A number of otherwise intelligent people still believe that the Government of the day should be free to plunder the Exchequer to fund ‘Yes’ campaigns in unpopular EU referendums even though exactly the same people would have been outraged and cried “constitutional foul” if Fianna Fail had done the same thing to try to get rid of PR in 1959 or 1968. Theirs is precisely the same kind of patronising attitude that finds gender-quota electoral funding laws attractive. Is there no end to their arrogance and moral superiority?
    Political parties, while not dealt with in terms under the Constitution, are nonetheless obvious examples of the exercise of “freedom of association” guaranteed by the Constitution. Interference with that freedom by legislation is simply not legitimate in pursuit of ideological goals — however worthy or unworthy they may be.
    If some political parties really wish to mend their hands in relation to gender-balance in their choice of candidates, let each of them separately do so in their own rule-book — and accept or suffer the consequences as the people decide. They are absolutely free to change their own rules. They are not, however, free to impose them by law on other parties or to cripple financially those parties which adopt different merit-based candidate selection strategies.
    This raises the question: “Why do the government political parties not act unilaterally and simply change their own rules?” Do they fear that the electoral outcome will be negative? Do they think that voluntary gender-balance in their rules would disadvantage them? And if so, why?
    Why have an unconstitutional “let’s all jump together” law? If leaving gender balance to be dealt with internally by the parties is a problem for voters, the people at large can deal with that issue, whether by voting against imbalanced tickets at the ballot box, or by joining imbalanced parties to change them, or by founding new ones.
    Dail Eireann simply has no constitutional right to abuse its legislative powers to qualify the constitutional freedom of association in a manner designed to seriously electorally disadvantage those who don’t agree with the particular social quotas deemed desirable by a temporary majority in that House.
    Such laws, I think, will be struck down. So let’s save some legal fees, ask the Government parties to amend their own rule-books if that’s what their members want, and uphold our Constitution while we’re at it.
    Beware, too, the Government’s mooted constitutional convention. Not a good idea. Already their vacant-minded proposals for five-year presidential terms to coincide with the Dail cycle (which may not be five years in any event!) and votes for 17 year olds seem like ridiculous distractions for a country with serious problems. The Government should wise up generally.
    Glib constitutional and reformist “issue surfing” will discredit them.
    The late and great constitutional lawyer, Fine Gael politician, and, yes, former Attorney General, John M Kelly wrote against it in the strongest possible terms — warning against “new” constitutions and ill-judged reform for their own sake. Pointing out that even the tiniest constitutional change required the approval of the people, he said: “This awkward necessity causes impatience among social reformers; but it is also the guarantee for ordinary people that their rather old-fashioned set of fundamental rights will not be rashly reduced, nor rashly enlarged, in response to the pressures of a passing moment”.
    Michael McDowell is the former leader of the Progressive Democrats. He is also a former Minister for Justice and Attorney General. He practises as a senior counsel.
    Sunday Independent

    http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/michael-mcdowell-dail-gender-law-unconstitutional-26793930.html
    The Constitution, Gender and Reform:
    Improving the Position of Women in the Irish Constitution Michael McDowell, ‘Dáil Gender Law Unconstitutional
    most important moral and legal document – needs to be reformed, with equality and …. Introduction: Gender and reform of the 1937 Constitution . … Convention Topic (iii): Review of the Dáil electoral system . …. 4.1 The constitutional recognition of women’s care work in the home . Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell.
    https://www.nwci.ie/download/pdf/nwci_workingpaper_gender_constitution_2012.pdf

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    Mute whitecross
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    Nov 8th 2015, 1:43 PM

    Democracy where the candidate is already chosen just has to be rubber stamped by the members of the party ,? One party has chosen the must useless turnip head it has been my misfortune to know because she is a women ,Cant speak, no fresh ideas only ever heard her complain and moan,She will turn people off that particular party many of the members hope she loses and hopefully they can put in the right candidate in the next general election .Not in this constituency i will add .Democracy means what you have in your lower regions of your body ,God helps us from this madness

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    Mute Frank Leonard
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:03 PM

    Well it’s par for the course not one word about policies or politics or how to do the job, no change, didn’t we send a turkey to the Eurovision one time, shur it will be grand kinda like what’s the difference between a duck. . . .

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    Mute Barry Byrne
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    Nov 8th 2015, 12:02 AM

    Bertie

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