Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill

Seanad Éireann

2 February 2012

Failte raibh gach einne agus go speisialta mna na hEireann

I welcome Minister Hogan to the House and

How I welcome this legislation – to bring greater transparency to political funding and the financing of political parties and the promotion of greater gender parity in politics.
I once had the temerity to suggest that Charles Haughey was very closely associated with big business and political donations and I was roundly and soundly abused for that.
I particularly welcome legislation that will level the playing field and end the unhealthy relationship – the golden circles – that have flourished in the past between big business and politics.
I will address the bulk of my remarks to the gender quota aspects of this Bill
Now is the time
We want to grow up as a country – we want men and women to be represented equally because
we are all equal:

We have equal rights
We are equal in terms of population
We are mothers, sisters, daughters and wives
We are teachers, police officers, coaches, bank officials, managers, bosses

Women contribute across society – in the home, in schools, in the community, in hospitals, in voluntary organisations
yet in the place where key decisions are made – we are absent
we are missing from the place where we should most be
Missing in numbers where we can contribute, make an impact, make a difference.
Yes. We do operate differently – we have different priorities, different approaches.
We think differently. We work differently
WE ARE DIFFERENT – and it’s the difference that matters – it’s the difference we want – in public life – in political life in the Dail, in the Seanad

In government
In cabinet
It’s the difference we need.
Because the difference will make a difference
And this difference, this inclusion of women is not emerging through the normal procedures.
We are not making progress.
If it’s 250 or 350 years before it happens – we can’t afford to wait any longer. This is an urgent matter because it goes to the core of who we are and how we look after ourselves and country.
There is invisible quota is firmly in place – the one that has always supported, encouraged and most importantly
EXPECTED Men to be in politics,
men to be in charge,
men to be in power,
to take the decisions

And in part we expect that because we look around us, that’s what is reflected back to us.
Where I live in Sligo we have had Mary Reynolds and Marian Harkin – only two women TDs and now two women senators Imelda Henry and myself; that hardly represents the population of Sligo/Leitrim or Sligo/North Leitrim.
That’s the status quo. What people are used to, what people know, what’s comfortable
People don’t change their banks easily, they don’t change their religion easily,
they certainly don’t change their politics easily or their voting habits
And voting for a woman will be difficult for some people, impossible for others perhaps
But IF THERE ARE NO WOMEN TO VOTE FOR – IT CANT HAPPEN

Of course
we could say that’s how it is – that’s life – tell that to cancer patients whose lives have been made better by medical and scientific interventions
We could talk about more women and how important it is and hope it rubs off somehow

We could try to level the playing field – to say to parties
Make the effort
Change your attitude
Change the status quo
Welcome women
Support women
And to say to women too
Make the effort
Change your attitude
Change the status quo

So we have to give this process a push, a kickstart to change our way of thinking,
to see that women are not entitled to be involved
We are obliged to be involved. It is our country. We are all responsible

Of course, this is not a replacement for much-needed wider political reform of the institutions of government.
That is necessary and will take years as reform always does. But that process should and must benefit from the input of women so that at least the issues of childcare and work patterns and work environment could be addressed by both men and women and some of those less family friendly policies could be examined and reorganised.

The Scottish Parliament – has a crèche open 8am to 6pm
And aims to meet between 9.30 and 5.30 – Tuesday to Thursday

Remember – the only Government in the world – Rwanda – which is predominantly women – outlawed polygamy!
Of course, persuading more women to enter public life and political life will not result directly from this piece of legislation.
It is an enabler to encourage the environment to be built where more women will want to come forward because they will know that they can and will get a fairer hearing.

Naturally some women will never choose politics – no more than I would choose to be an actuary or an engineer – I cant draw a straight line and algebra and I were never friends – being a public representative is not everybody’s cup of tea.

But this legislation will have a greater impact because it supported by supported by 50:50 – I am proud to say I am a founder member of the North West branch of this lobby group which is now nearly national and 50:50 aims to encourage debate, conversation, discussion and argument about the need for more women in politics.

And it is also supported by a new group called Women for Election which has received funding from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland to do the very thing many critics say is missing – run workshops, lectures, offer training and mentoring to women who are interested and want to know about a life in politics.

And why did this group go down this route –
because when they were lobbying for a yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty, they encountered many women who were interested in politics but because they were outside the family/dynastic/party system didn’t know how to get involved., didn’t know if they would be welcome, felt excluded

These movements are of women, for women and by women which is not surprising
but crucially – in the 21st century
these movements encourage support from men and have received much support from men for thesechanges.
Without that support, this would remain just a law without being rooted in society.
Of course the male support will be well and truly tested when it involves the realisation that women will not be sitting on men’s knees in either of the Houses of the Oireachtas – it will mean some men will have to move over!

But those critics of the legislation would do well to remember that society changes slowly over time and that there are many pieces to the jigsaw of change.
I, as one woman who believes that 50:50 is the correct form of representation and welcome this legislation.

THE DIFFERENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Broadband for Rural Schools

Added: 09 Feb 2012 15:32:46
O’KEEFFE WELCOMES ROLLOUT OF HIGH SPEED BROADBAND TO SLIGO SCHOOLS Sligo North Leitrim Senator Susan O’Keeffe has welcomed the news that high speed broadband will be rolled out in local schools in 2012. Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD and Min