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ALTHOUGH WE ARE still to see the proof of gender quotas’ impact in Ireland, this solution is repeatedly proposed as an answer to gender inequality in politics. I have always had mixed feelings about this policy. In my opinion, gender quotas work more like a cosmetic interpolation altering the optics of our democracy than an intervention improving its health.
Following the 2016 introduction of mandatory gender quotas in general elections we had nearly twice as many women candidates as before. This may be seen as a sign of inclusive democracy. Under the surface, however, our democracy is still showing symptoms of inequality. The increased number of female candidates did not translate to more women being elected. Women won 35 seats in the Dáil in 2016 and 36 in 2020. Despite quotas women still are not achieving equal electoral success to men.
Why? Because quotas only remove barriers to the starting line of the electoral race. Barriers that women encounter between the starting and finish lines stay rather unaffected by this policy change. Gender quotas do not address the key issues that female candidates face namely childcare, safety, and above all sexism and racism, at the ballot boxes.
Gender quotas may be perceived as a way to force political parties to create a welcoming environment for female electoral participation. I think however that inadvertently it offers them an easy way out from making a meaningful commitment to gender equality instead. Tokenism is a real issue for female and other minoritised candidates. Gender quotas are not always followed by further internal policy changes necessary to create a welcoming ecosystem for diversity such as gender-specific support packages or anti-racism protocols.
I also question gender quotas from the perspective of election candidates of a migrant background. Given that election candidates of a migrant background achieved full gender parity I wonder what kind of intervention gender quotas can make for this cohort? Women of a migrant background are also more likely to run as a party nominee than their male counterparts.
If gender quotas don’t seem to bring the expected result, why are we making this policy recommendation the centre of our advocacy for inclusive democracy? Especially at a local level of politics and since we have other tools at our disposal to make gender parity closer to reality.
What’s the alternative? Diversity-focused co-options to local councils and Seanad nominations. The one area where we still should push for introducing quotas is at the appointments to Cabinet. Rather than not supporting quotas overall, I have mixed feelings about it, but it does make sense at some level of politics and may not be the best option at other levels.
In 2015 newly elected Justin Trudeau announced the first gender-balanced cabinet in Canada. In his answer to the question about his motivation for his appointments, he simply said ‘Because it’s 2015’. We should insist that Ireland catch up with the 2015 gender equality standards in politics. If the Government expects a commitment to gender parity from parties, it should lead by example. If we expect gender quotas in candidates’ selection we should expect gender quotas in ministers’ appointments too. Not to mention that this would magnify female role models for aspiring women politicians. The folk wisdom ‘you cannot be what you cannot see’ has been proven to be the truth by political researchers too.
Co-options, where women are effectively moved into positions of power, have been also proven to be an effective tool for increasing both gender and ethnic diversity in politics. Between the 2019 and the 2024 local elections 132 council seats have been vacated. Through co-options, female representation at the local councils increased by 2%. Three additional councillors of a migrant background were also co-opted in that period. It could be more if we hold political parties accountable for their decisions and demand diversity-focused co-options. I wrote about how diversity-focused co-option can turn words of solidarity into acts of solidarity, and why we should insist on political parties to use that tool for gender and ethnic equality. I also recorded a podcast where amongst many things, Dr Michelle Maher of See Her Elected and I discuss the pros and cons of co-option for increasing diversity in politics.
For me, the winning argument for recognising co-option as an effective tool for gender and ethnic equality in politics is that incumbency is still one of the key reasons in deciding on electoral success. In June local elections 10 out of 12 outgoing councillors of a migrant background were re-elected, including three who were co-opted to their first term.
Co-options to local councils can also positively impact national politics since local politics is considered a stepping stone to future general elections. Each time Ireland goes to the ballots to vote for our national representatives around 50 local councillors get in. A co-opted female councillor has more chances to be successful in general elections than a female candidate filling a quota space.
Similarly, Seanad nominations could be used to show the Government’s and above all Taoiseach’s tangible commitment to inclusive democracy and gender and ethnic equality in politics. The Seanad was established to give a voice to those who are underrepresented after all.
Gender quotas is a policy that is straightforward to understand, less divisive and simple to implement. However, let’s not make this policy recommendation as a one-size-fits-all solution. Otherwise, we are risking also taking the easy way out from making tangible progress towards an inclusive democracy.
Teresa Buczkowska is a Polish-Irish migrant rights campaigner. She is the Editor of The Migrant Vote.
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It’s seems common theme this morning. Catherine Murphy td also believed her phones were tapped in concern to to siteserv, irbc.
Smart move considering the attempts by the British army/terrorists and loyalist terrorists to murder Gerry.
This is 100% done by the skum running our political parties. The well known men with the knowledge dirt that make our political filth dance to their tune.
The public enemy (ies) number 1 and we all know who they are. The rot at the core of this country. The filth that needs to be hacked out surgically.
Yes indeed a great little country to do corruption in.
Not really, we aren’t at the races at all re corruption.
Freebet, any proof, or even evidence?
Correct, we’re not at the races. As our elected politicians continue to fix them – and blame the EU, ECB, World Bank etc. for their ineptitude.
Gerry is right to be worried imagine if someone was earwigging while Gerry was chatting to his mi5 handler?
Oh don’t make me laugh. Not at the races when it comes to corruption. Of course we are not at the races , we sit on the fence and let it happen. Look at Moriarty . government and DPP sitting on it for years. Wouldn’t have anything to do with statue of limitations coming this year.
74 days till the statute of limitations runs out in relation to the Moriarty tribunal. Given the findings, the DPP should have moved before now, one way or the other.
Were Jammin – now a legal expert! Go back to your daily propaganda rubbish – you are doing great damage to your masters, SF/IRA.
75 Days before Statute of limitations Runs out on Moriarty Tribunal. (22/3/2016)
This is not propaganda rubbish Ger, it is true, it doesn`t need a legal expert to read and understand it.
Go back to your propaganda rubbish about FG/Liebour/RNU, There s a good chap
bus, I was referring to the expert advising the DPP – and I have never posted about the parties (?) you refer to. keep up, bus m8.
Catherine Murphy will be easy to recognise on the campaign trail, she’ll be the one in the tin foil hat choking on a SIM card.
Seamus government TDs will also be really easy to recognise in the campaign trail, they will be carrying the Irish independent and a picture of dob and have few envelopes under their jackets.
Beat me to it Paddy.
Michael Tsarion on Sinn Fein Part 1 of 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVk_lC2DUk
There would be something seriously wrong with our national security infrastructure if someone with serious ties to terror organisations was not being monitored.
Right side, British intelligence still taps into all of Irelands fibre optic and phone networks, even though it undermines our sovereignty our government doesn’t seem to care and never raises this serious issue with their British counterparts.
Perhaps. But What about Catherine Murphy? No threat there. And then as Adams mentioned, the Garda stations? It goes across the bored also. FF also have a history of phone tapping.
Ask Kenny and DOB if Catherine is a threat
What have either of them to do with this story? Adams says he believes he is monitored and given his chequered past with regard to terror activities of course the state should monitor him, it is in the best interest of our national security.
Very true. I’d also assume the likes of Daly, Murphy, Wallace and Brenden Ogle for example are being closely monitored. Very sinister for a democracy.
Right side, who was analysing and using data harvested from the Garda phone taps.
Both of them are mentioned in the story.
“I’d also assume”…….
OK Mr Rightside leaving aside the dimension to Gerry Adams that you highlight, there is also the consideration that private communications between citizens and their elected representative being monitored by state security services (internal and external) and private actors. In the UK the Wilson Doctrine (has been undermined and Cameron has had to re-assure MP’s that their private correspondence are not being tapped). Don’t the Irish people have a fair expectation that any communication (critical or supplicatory) be protected.
Andrew, “I’d also assume ” you could be wrong.
What sovereignty, Phil? Might I remind you of Lisbon 1 and 2, and in particular, The Fiscal Compact Treaty. Following the passage of these referenda our ‘sovereignty’ is a mere myth.
Rashers, the EU don’t seem to interested that one of its members is spying on their neighbour a fellow member. Germany wasn’t to happy when they discovered the Americans spying on them.
…just to add, them referendum treaties which were held twice are null and void now as the promises made during their campaigns weren’t upheld.
What about Catherine Murphy td ? She is also mentioned in relation to phone tapping and siteserv and irbc.
Leaving aside the personalities involved It is worth asking wether this or precious Governments go along with the Wilson Doctrine that members of parliaments communication with their constituents are protected from tapping by state security services. To say anything other than this is a corruption of the democratic process. I should be able to communicate with my local TD without fear of being intercepted by other state actors. Not state private actors we just have to be vigilant…cough…Voldemort…Usb stick miraculously appearing on desk….cough
Welcome to 1984.
FG must be really rattled.
Why?
The govt are stumbling from one disaster to another but if the polls are to be believed, the people of the country havent woken up to the reality of just how bad this govt is. It will be interesting to see the next poll.
Err Journal where is my comment gone RE the HSE debacle and the floods? – there was no profanity, no slurs or anything to the best of my knowledge there were no rules broken by my post – would you care to elaborate as to why my comment was deleted?
here is the comment i posted ,(or to the best of my recollection)
Fg are rattled because they didn`t call an election in November, before the HSE debacle and the floods, I said at the time that the HSE would only get worse, and the Winter vomiting bug hasn`t reared it`s ugly head yet and it will with almost dreaded certainty, Showing Varadkar to be the useless politician that most of us know he is..
WHY WAS THIS POST REMOVED HUGH??
Seamus bit like SF last year 1 debacle after another… hypocrites blasted the church and rightly so but covered up the abuse going on inside their own ranks!
Sorry i also had that with patients jammed together in close proximity the Winter bug will run rampant.
According to the article Gerry recounts the attorney general and/or the Taoiseach as being afraid that their phones being tapped, which raises the question of who and under what authority does the alleged tapping occur?
Everything is monitored. Once you’ve been flagged by authorities, every interaction you have ever made with your mobile or any internet device is likely to be analyzed and any future interaction could be monitored in real time. That goes for everyone on here as well as TDs trying to speak truth to power.
Id say its fairly obvious that gerrys phone is tapped as it has been in the past. But who is tapping phones in this state?
The man headed up Sinn Fein and the IRA for over 30 years so yeah doubtful he’s going to slip up on the phone
Breaking news: Live long has world exclusive!! Can you post the link please?
Why?
What exclusive? He might as well post a link to Adams’ wikipedia page!
The hill 16 mug on ya
To be fair to Gerry, he’s had to assume that he’s being bugged for all his adult life, why change now!
Poor Gerry. A life long victim, but perhaps he should have listened to his parents when they told him to be careful of the company he keeps.
Just because chooses to use a burner is a far cry from proving their phone is being tapped.
A serious accusation requires serious proof.
I would imagine Enda and Co do this too. It would only make sense. Their positions would make them targets for phone tapping. The News of the World illegal phone tapping of public figures is a classic example. And I would put money down in a bet was only the tip of the iceberg of what goes on with public figures and interference with their personal communications
Tap, protect its citizens???? Yeah, like rural communities are protected from roaming thugs by moving all the gardai to Dublin to protect the Dail, ministers and meter installers, protect homeless citizens by letting them die on the streets, protect kids by removing medical cards, sick citizens being protected by being left on trollies in hospital corridors, citizens in trouble with mortgages being protected by the state legislating so the banks can evict people faster. Yeah Tap, you FG shills are vomit inducing.
This is in reply to that well know FG shill Tap Solny.
I’m sure an ‘independent’ investigation by a former special criminal court judge with a permanent garda close protection detail that is more concerned with leak plugging then investigating the possibility of misuse of phone tapping equipment will show that the state, police and powerful tax exiles are totally innocent…
No sh@t ,we would never have guessed, …There is no one tapping Murphys phone ffs
Oh, right. Well, er, I guess that’s that then. Cheers, Patrick!
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy resorted to using “throwaway” mobile phones at the height of the Siteserv/IBRC saga after independent security experts warned that her and her colleagues’ phones may have been illegally tapped.
Ms Murphy made the revelations as she hit out at the ongoing delays to the State’s investigation into a series of controversial transactions by IBRC, saying if the problems are not overcome, “you can never, ever have another inquiry of this type”.
Ms Murphy said at the height of the Siteserv-IBRC controversy in April that she and her colleagues became concerned their phones and other equipment were under surveillance.
Ms Murphy said that, after taking “prudent” advice “on a range of different things, including our phones” from a number of independent IT and security experts, whom she declined to name, it was decided to resort to drastic measures. https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/siteserv-saga-saw-catherine-murphy-warned-of-tapping-375122.html&ved=0ahUKEwjA3u2dlprKAhVBYQ8KHcFIAL0QFggoMAM&usg=AFQjCNEDucXZNN5hw-xOjv1_5mSMwOQq2Q
Surely if she spoke to an independent security/it expert they would have directed her towards encrypting her messages/calls/email(very easily done) rather than resorting to a burner phone. Currently all carriers require some form of I.D and proof of address to get a new number, if they were being tapped surely they would have the ability to do a check on new numbers for her or her team?
Sounds like she spoke to someone who lives in a faraday cage to stop the signals reading their thoughts…
Phone networks don’t require you to provide them with a name and address.
Desperate times for a very scared and desperate government.
How a Sinn Fein ‘phonetap’ conversation generally goes: “Ya you know our friend who lives over on the east side? Ya, what about him? You won’t have to worry about him anymore boss; we took the jam outta of his doughnut. “
It is the duty of the state to protect its citizens from different types of threats and the use of phone tapping could be very useful.
You should speak to law enforcement and tell them how useful phone tapping could be Tap.
Probably his mobile, phone, email, post and anything else as well???
It is coming up to the elections anyway…
Hopefully our police are doing their jobs.
Can you imagine if he buys a new mobile regularly and then gives it to charity after a while, they be wondering what is he doing lol. I say phone as the sim card can be used to spy on you as can the IMEI number as well as the cell tower I believe? It was shown recently how a mobile that you thought was off could be used to spy on people, all cloak and dagger stuff…
Sure all our phones are being tapped & monitored. Gerry shiuld be well used to it by now.
Yawn, who cares???
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