Sir, – I was amused to read Derek J Byrne's poorly informed polemic against gender quotas in politics (March 9th). I would urge Mr Byrne to read the 2009 report of the Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee on women's participation in politics, in which we put forward the evidence-based arguments for adopting positive action measures to increase the numbers of women TDs.
This report, for which I was rapporteur, was adopted unanimously by the committee. It led to the passage of section 42 of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012, which requires political parties to select at least 30 per cent of their candidates of each gender for the next general election, or risk losing half their State funding.
This provision is similar to laws passed in Belgium and Spain, and in many other countries worldwide, which have led to notable increases in the numbers of women elected to parliament elsewhere.
Such laws do not impose any obligation on voters to vote for any particular candidate. But they recognise that the current system of candidate selection within political parties is far from the merit-based, level playing field that Mr Byrne appears to believe exists. The truth is that all sorts of invisible “quotas” currently operate within politics, based on family name, geographic area, age or other attributes. These quotas have effectively operated to exclude women for many years; that is why only 16 per cent of our TDs are women; why the Dáil has always stubbornly remained at least 84 per cent male; and why Ireland languishes far down the European and world rankings of women’s parliamentary representation.
It is hardly condescending or insulting to women, as Mr Byrne suggests, to take the necessary proactive steps to challenge this ongoing inequity. – Yours, etc,
IVANA BACIK,
Seanad Éireann,
Leinster House, Dublin 2.
Sir, – The gender imbalance in the Dáil can of course be solved by positive discrimination in favour of women, particularly when such required quotas are enforced by linking it to party funding. However, it will not produce a more democratically accountable Dáil. The elephant in the room is the absence of structural reform to ensure that women are not disadvantaged because of biological realities for those who are forced to choose between a family-friendly work environment or a career in Irish politics. – Yours, etc,
Dr VINCENT KENNY,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
A chara, – In response to Maebh Ní Chathaláin (March 10th), "the five Cs" of cash, childcare, confidence, culture and candidate selection procedures can equally be applied to both men and women as the main obstacles to entering politics.
To suggest otherwise is sexist. Implementing quotas based on sex is also sexist, however well meaning it may be. It is also unnecessary. Women have rightfully won their liberation in this country. Would-be revolutionaries need to move on to more relevant issues. Quotas based on sex would formalise discrimination based on sex. – Is mise,
PETER McMAHON,
Abbeyfeale,
Co Limerick.