Commissioner Wallstrom : In favour of gender quotas, Ireland and women

Issued : Thursday 10 September, 2009



'I support quotas for women', said Commissioner Wallstrom



Commissioner Margot Wallstrom was the guest speaker at LW event 'Women and the European Union'. The event was attended by a wide audience with younger women who are the new European generation along with older women who remember the days of the marriage bar.



Commissioner Wallstrom spoke about what it means to be a woman in Europe and referred to the challenges that still exist.'The EU has changed things for women for the better. I know that in Ireland the EU has had a great impact on women's rights. Still, many challenges remain : European pay gap of 16% which will take another 70 years to close, work/life balance, domestic violence. Let's not forget that one woman in three in Europe experiences domestic or sexual violence. These challenges are not new but they are more acute.'



'The EU needs Ireland and Ireland needs the EU', said Commissioner Wallstrom.



The Commissioner went on to emphasize that the EU is important to Ireland and Ireland is important to the EU.'The EU has supported the peace process, protected women's rights, structural funding has benefited Ireland and European projects have had a positive impact in Ireland. At the moment the EU is putting 100 billion euro into Ireland which equals 77% of the Irish GDP! As to the EU benefiting Ireland, the Irish presidencies have always been a success, the Irish 'gift of the gab' has been getting Ireland to places and the Irish negotiating skills are second to none.'



How about the Lisbon Treaty?'As a Social Democrat I support the Lisbon Treaty. I have always defended workers' rights. In the EU we have to balance the single market demands with workers' rights, and I believe the Treaty does that through the Charter of Fundamental Rights. If the Treaty is ratified it is thanks to the Irish efforts. I personally favour each member state retaining a Commissioner because having a Commissioner provides a link between the EU and the citizens of that member state, even if the Commissioner is not working in favour of her or his home country. It should be pointed out that if the Lisbon Treaty is rejected the Nice Treaty will prevail, and so we will lose Commissioners.'



The Commissioner was asked about what she thought about political gender quotas.'I am in favour of quotas. There is no reason why we shouldn't have quotas. In Norway gender quotas have been used effectively in company boards. Women who joined boards asked for training, leading to the men to ask for training as well. I understand that gender quotas are a sensitive issue. But surely we have women who are good enough. And it is not fair that men in positions of power get to choose men! We need competent women, and we do have competent women.



How would a YES /NO vote in the Lisbon Referendum affect EU enlargement? 'Formally nothing changes. Enlargement would need a unanimous agreement. Lisbon would make it easier to deal with the issue of enlargement because if we continue to operate under the Nice Treaty the EU is more cumbersome to operate. We want to see the Balkan countries become members, and Turkey of course has been lining up to be a member for 40 years. It will take many years before Turkey is ready. All new members will have to fulfil certain conditions such as defend human rights. I think it is humbling to think that we are now 27 countries all around the one table. It is a real achievement.'



As to climate change the Commissioner revealed that it was the price tag associated with climate change that had focused minds. 'The Stern Report stated that tackling climate change now would cost 1% of the GDP whereas tackling the climate change in 2020 would cost 25% of the GDP. We don't always realise that a climate only 5 degrees colder than today would result in ice age, so small changes in temperatures can have a great i
impact. The challenge now is to get China, India and the US on board.



The Commissioner also referred to children's rights. 'For the first time, children's rights are part of a EU Treaty. That is significant. Childcare is part of economic growth, and while every member state can decide for their own childcare provision the EU can help in providing solutions. She also said that immigration matters would be made easier under Lisbon. 'More harmonised immigration policy would give clarity', she said.



Commissioner Wallstrom gave the women a final word : 'Women can make a difference - if you use your power!'