IRELAND IS an “international pariah” in terms of the political participation of women in parliamentary politics, according to former equality minister Gemma Hussey.
She was speaking in a debate on gender equality at a seminar in the Dáil for former parliamentarians and highlighted the Republic’s 85th place in world rankings for the participation of women in politics.
Labour Senator Ivana Bacik, who chaired an Oireachtas sub-committee which reported on women’s participation in politics, called for legislation that would require political parties to select a minimum proportion of women candidates to put before the electorate at local, national and European elections.
Ms Bacik said she was “flexible” about the idea of quotas, believed it should be tried with a proposal that one-third of candidates chosen be women. Ms Bacik was disappointed that she was one of only four female Labour candidates in the Dublin area but Labour had the largest female representation in parliament. Just 22 or 13.8 per cent of TDs are women and 22 per cent of Senators.
Former independent senator Mary Henry noted the emphasis on getting young women into politics and said she was first elected to the Seanad aged 50. The debate dealt with the “three Cs” of childcare, cash and confidence as stumbling blocks. Ms Henry said some of the problems no longer existed for older women. “The children are delighted to see the back of you. You may have a bit more cash and if you haven’t got confidence by then you might as well give up.”
