Labour Women: Fine Gael disappoints over quotas for women
Issued : Friday 12 March, 2010
“The Fine Gael leadership was unable to get through a reform which would have obliged the party to put forward more women candidates. It is very disappointing, in particular when women TDs opposed a measure which would have created a meaningful way to take action. Voting in favour of this measure would have created an opportunity to start a debate”, Katherine Dunne, Labour Women Chair said.
“It is very easy for a handful of privileged public reps to think that all women can enter politics at the drop of a hat. How exactly do they think the establishment develops women-friendly practices when there are so few women? What tends to happen is that the few women who are there have to adapt to the system, not the other way around.
“Earlier this week the Seanad dropped a debate on Women’s Participation in Politics off the agenda, although it was promised. With this attitude we will never make progress.
“Many people think that quotas are fine for some far-flung countries, but the reality is that many of those far-flung places have in fact more women making decisions than we have. People also think that quotas are old-fashioned, but in reality quotas are not as old-fashioned as a Dáil with only 13% women in it.
“Fine Gael’s inability to convince its TDs to think outside the box leaves the Labour Party as the only party which has the courage and vision to create a more modern Ireland, as Labour introduced a Bill last year which would have made the political parties sit up and take note of women.”
