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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR says the government is “open” to including a non-binary option in the next census form.
Speaking at today’s Joint Committee on Gender Equality, Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan noted that there were “a number of people who would have liked to identify as non-binary” in the latest census.
Deputy Hourigan noted that she has already raised the issue with Minister for Equality Roderic O’Gorman.
In response, Varadkar said “it is definitely something the government is open to”.
He noted that there were only ‘male’ and ‘female’ options, and said: “I think there should be a third option.”
The Tánaiste added: “I would need the advice of the statisticians and the CSO as to how best to do that, whether it’s other and then you write in, or whether you give a list of options”.
Cormac Halpin is senior statistician with the CSO and speaking prior to this year’s census, he told The Journal: “We’re very conscious that gender identity is a very important area for many people.”
Speaking to The Explainer podcast, he added: “We are conscious that there is some disappointment that there’s not a question on gender identity on the census.”
However, he said work on testing questions is taking place in smaller CSO surveys to find the best question formats to capture meaningful data.
Halpin said this question on gender identity will be put forward as part of the consultation for the next census in 2027.
Explaining why a question on gender identity wasn’t include in this year’s census, Halpin said: “The recommendation that emerged was because gender identity is such a new area of statistical data collection, that the CSO needed to have a really robust and reliable question on gender identity, and on making sure that it was comprehensible to as many people as possible.”
‘Promotional bias’
The committee discussed the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality regarding pay and workplace conditions.
Varadkar said the main barrier to women getting into leadership roles and on to company boards is due to promotional bias.
He added that there are fewer women working at senior levels within companies, which he said is not due to lack of opportunities.
He also told the Joint Committee on Gender Equality that barriers faced by women at lower levels are unlikely to be resolved by bringing in mandatory board quotas.
“In terms of the barriers to women getting into leadership positions and getting on to company boards, I think it is probably is down to a degree of promotion bias,” Varadkar said.
“If you look at a lot of organisations, the public service is one example, you’ll see a lot of women up to a certain point and then when you get to the highest tier there are fewer. There are lots of reasons for that but that’s a problem.
“One thing we want to avoid happening is putting in place a set of quotas, when it’s the same people that turn up all the time on the boards.
“You need a stream of people who are getting promoted and I think there is promotional bias in business at the moment for lots of reasons but that needs to change.”
He added: “The progress at board level in Ireland does show what can be achieved when companies focus on making a change.
“It should also be remembered that the primary reasons for the lack of women in leadership positions in business is not simply a lack of opportunity at senior levels in companies, but barriers at the lower levels that are unlikely to be resolved by mandatory board quotas.
“Carefully monitored voluntary targets helped to promote cultural and strategic change at the heart of companies.”
With additional reporting from Press Association
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As with HG takes some serious bravery to protest in Putin’s Russia. Can’t see it doing any good but gotta admire the effort.
@GrahamMManning: Hong Kong
@GrahamMManning: as in baby Napoleon’s (Macron) France also.
@Jack Simpson: hopeless Fail honey
@Jack Simpson:
Well done on one of the most inane comments posted on the Journal, and that’s saying something!
@Jack Simpson: We get it, you don’t like Macron because he’s not a racist homophobe.
Coming to America and a democracy near you soon.
@James Wormold: fair elections? We already have them.
@Keelan O’neill: hahahaha dope
@Keelan O’neill: In America!? Lol! Were big corporations and lobby groups have the real say.
@Keelan O’neill: do you?
In most elections the person with the most votes win.
America doesn’t do that, Trump didn’t get the most votes.
@James Wormold: The looney lefties here already love to call our Pride embracing Gardaí and political establishment “Fascists”..be careful what you wish for…
@Barry Somers: You wishing Hillary had of won now? I suppose all is forgiven..
I think the Irish government should tell the Russian ambassador to leave Ireland till there is free elections in Russia, and tell Putin to stop being a dictator.
@Marty from Sligo: not necessarily saying we shouldn’t but if we’re being consistent we’d be kicking out a lot of others too.
@Marty from Sligo: 1) Putin isn’t a dictator. It’s a soft authoritarian state. He plays a balancing act between different factions.
2) Will you add Macron’s France to the list or the US where the looney Democrats are attacking a sitting president via hoaxes, e.g. Russiagate
@Jack Simpson:
The ‘hoax’ that’s resulted in 35 people indicted and pleading guilty, with many of them jailed? That hoax?
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/20/17031772/mueller-indictments-grand-jury
@The Great Unwashed: The foundational allegation is to do with the Trump admin colluding with the Kremlin. None of the indictments are connected to this. No one is interested in perjury traps, financial offences, payments to porn stars, etc.
@Jack Simpson: False. He was appointed to look into “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump, and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation”.
Increasing amount of anti Russian rhetoric in western media. Putin still extremely popular in Russia and enough muppets in the West falling for this propaganda
@Mark Gough: easy to remain popular when you control everything and jail or worse whoever disagrees wit ya. If he’s so secure in his position why not have actual free and fair elections?
@Mark Gough: Of course Putin is popular in Russia, he tells the media what to say. RT, Sputnik, Rossiya and NTV are all state owned media outlets.
@Mark Gough: Hitler was popular in Germany. FF were popular in Ireland. Many dictators & rogues are popular but as Christopher Hitchens put it public opinion isn’t just often wrong it’s always. If you went to Russia or meet Russias as I often do its easy to figure out they have no choice but to like him & he also offers them falso hopes with nationalism & false claims of foreign interference. Put in a one trick pony like all dictators. His day will come.
@The decline of Manchester United: well if you think our media isint bought out by political parties you will believe anything. But everyone to their own. I admire Putin for standing up to western threats and bullying. US is by far the most corrupt country in the world. The poverty there is real and only the rich do well
@Mjhint: so easy to believe western propaganda.
@Mark Gough: I’m only seeing one muppet. He’s a corrupt coward and if you can’t see that why don’t you F off over there
@Mark Gough: whataboutery much? As a fan of Purim you’re at best dim and just a really bad person. Tis worse than that though isn’t it???
@GrahamMManning: Putin…
@Mark Gough: Your a fool if you think Putin is standing up to the West. He undermines Democracy by annexing parts of Ukraine, murdering political rivals, killing journalists and poisoning intelligence officers. Not to mention the billions he has stolen from the Russian people through his mafia state business dealings. The United States which is our largest trade partner and European countries set an example to the rest of the world in the coruption index. Only a matter of time before Putin is ousted as the corrupt thief he is.
@Mark Gough: what are you ? A Russian bot ? How can you support a dictator who wants to overthrow the West and its democracy?
@Mark Gough: so you believe in stuff from a dictatorship?
@GrahamMManning: you haven’t a clue. You watched too many Hollywood movies – “those evil Russians”. He controls more than a ‘western’ president but not everything. If you read Russian media, there is a lot of diversity of opinion, particularly in print media, with many criticising him regularly.
@Mjhint: 1) He isn’t a dictator. 2) Hitchens had many suspect view, e.g. supported the Iraq war. 3) Russia has developed massively under Putin from a country on the brink of collapse to a military superpower and regional economic power, ranked 5th or 6th in world GDP PPP. Would possibly be ranked higher had it not been for western sanctions. 4) “false claims of election interference” – are you getting mixed up with the Russiagate hoax? Western election interference in Russia has been much more common e.g. 1996 re-election of Yeltsin. Hollywood even made a film out of it called “Spinning Boris”.
@Michael farrelly: Michael is definitely a bot. Writes the same 5 lines every time. The bots algorithm definitely needs to be updated.
@The decline of Manchester United: So much rubbish in one comment. Hard to know were to start! 1) Crimea seceded after western supported coup; 2) I know we live in age of the Russiagate hoax where allegations become facts but there is no evidence that Putin kills journalists. The rate of such killings was much higher in the ’90s. It is not a Putin thing, it is a Russia thing, 3) Billions he has stolen?! More allegations, no evidence to support this; 4) US and the EU setting an example!? Lol! The US and EU are more divided than ever. Both engage in corruption and regime change regularly. 5) Anymore fairy tails?! You probably also believe that Putin elected Trump?!
@Jack Simpson: he’s a dictator by any definition love. Adore him all you like but the diversity of opinion that allows you spout some awful gibberish comes with some serious consequences in Russia.
@Jack Simpson:
Yep, it’s purely a coincidence that Putin’s political rivals keep turning up dead. Nothing to do with Putin. Just a coincidence. Nothing to see here. Got it?
Is there some sort of EU quota we have reached yet on Russia bashing?
@Free Online Games:
If there is something factually wrong with the article we would be delighted to hear it…..
@Free Online Games: I am aware that the Norwegian Foreign Office has pressured publications to promote anti Russian articles (circa 2014) and studies by threatening Stop funding grants etc.. I presume it is the same in the UK (Integrity Initiative RIP) and other Countries? I suspect the real pressure for this change in editorial policy comes from Atlantic Alliance/NATO/etc
@Patrick Nolan: Hi Patrick, Nothing wrong with the article in facts but the Press Gazette did an FOI request on the Police in the UK and found 60,000 people on the Domestic Extremist Database (2000 Journalists).
So it may be a case of the pot calling the kettle black? People here seem to realise the import (or not) of the article.
3000 odd attended, 600 arrests and it appears everyone was then freed.
I did help (slightly) a Russian anti nuclear activist to escape Russia with her children (To France). It might be worth pointing out politicisation of charities and NGO`s through funding pressures has damaged a lot of good causes around the world.
@GrahamMManning: http://powerbase.info/index.php/National_Domestic_Extremism_Database
Tin foil hats dont work i suspect? Not against this abuse of power :)
@GrahamMManning: Shh..
#Acte37 #Paris Good Mood today, luckily it is a little cooler because the heat wave is in France too.
A new supporter today, a French bulldog, I hope there will not be a tears gas today .. https://twitter.com/Santanumalbum/status/1155131454755614721
@sean mcgee:
NURSE!! Someone is off his meds again!
@Free Online Games: no i it will stop when he stops killing journalists and political opponents
@sean mcgee: lol hilarious
@sean mcgee: don’t mind the brainwashed trolls Sean
@Jack Simpson: pots not recognising kettles is hilarious.
Where is the coverage on the yellow vest protests?! These have been going strong for nearly a year. I haven’t seen any articles on them since December.
@Jack Simpson: Yes but France is nice and socialist and harmonious etc. * cough*
@Jack Simpson:
Here’s one from ‘MSM’ from a couple of weeks ago. You’re welcome.
https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cpzg2d6re0lt/france-yellow-vest-protests
@The Great Unwashed: thanks for sharing.
Putin the megalomaniac will not like that.
@Seán Dillon:Russia went down the jax when Gorbachev left
Number of attendees of these demonstrations is about 0.1% of the Moscow population in the biggest one and about 0.02% of the recent one.
That is nowhere near to be called “major protest movement” and it shows that excluded candidates do not have pretty much any support bar few loyalists type “family and friends” plus obvious rioters of antifa type who cant resist bit of a violence and some looting.
@Pat Patovic: It’s not possible for you or anyone else to get a credible attendance reading from any source as the media is owned by the Russian Government.
@Michael farrelly: Hardly a supporter. I am just not mainstream media brainwashed simpleton or rusophobe like you. Putin is nowhere near murderous like Clinton, Bush or Obama.
@Michael farrelly: he is not a dictator.
@Pat Patovic:
Putin is deliberately targeting civilians (including many women and children) in Syria as we speak by bombing markets, hospitals etc.. Hundreds are being killed. But sure, he doesn’t have a murderous bone in his body.
@The Great Unwashed: Have Russia killed civilians in Syria? Of course they have! There probably has never been a war where there have been no civilian casualties. I don’t believe he/Russia are deliberately targeting civilians though. Where is the evidence?
@The Great Unwashed: Seriously? He is still small fish according to your logic. There are less civilian casulties in whole of Syria compared to “liberation of Mosul district” by US coalition. We can seriously discuss which airforce is deliberately attacking and destroying civilian infrastructure in Syria but you are not interested in facts. They do not correspond with your indoctrination.
Civilian casulties are speciality of US airforce. From current bombing and droning pretty much all over the world to Vietnam and even to WWII when US carpet bombed and firebombed most of the german cities. And all of that is nothing compared to what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Sad to see, but still very popular in Russia and nothing going to change.
@Colin Keogh: the article literally says its changing. Putin controlling the entire state will ensure any electoral result is exactly what he wants. He might still win an democratic election but only by the skin of his balls and not successive ones. All pie in the sky of course cos he ain’t leaving power til he dies and feck knows what happens den????
@Colin Keogh:
And Kim Yung Un secured 104% of the votes in NK…
@The Great Unwashed: Don’t criticise Kim Shane Ross is going to sort him out!
@GrahamMManning: Putin is overwhelmingly popular in Russia, particularly compared to opposition. The west love the racist, Navalny but he has tiny support and is not considered big opposition in Russia. A reason why Putin has such control is due to corruption which was massive when he took over in ’00. Is it still corrupt? Yes. More so than west? Yes. As well as rooting out corruption, does Putin contribute in other ways? Yes. Relative to Russia’s history, Russia is better off now than ever.
Who would want to live in Russia
I’m glad media don’t respond to FFG ….
What a horrible place Russia must be to live in.
When you mention the word FAIR it is not in the Russian dictionary these people knew that and while I admire there stance it was always going to end up like this.
have your say