50:50 Launches in the North West

How great to launch 50:50 in Sligo for the North West and to have such an enthusiastic and interested attendance at the Clarion Hotel. (January 2012).

How great to have women linking together from Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford and Sligo, all keen to discuss the importance and need for women in political life.

All the speakers approached the lack of women in politics and public life from a different stand point but all came to the same conclusion – that it is undemocratic for representation to be majority male when the population splits 50/50!

I was delighted to be able to keep the promise I made to 50:50 last summer to launch a group in the North West and what a great group it is. I took the opportunity of the launch to say that this is the time to encourage more women into public and political life; not that women are better or men are better but that “we are different and that we have a responsibility to stand together and work together on behalf of our country and that “we must get up together and seize the moment.”

Mayor of Sligo Rosaleen O’Grady opened the meeting and referred to the shortage of women as “democracy unfinished” and “systemic discrimination.” Noirin Clancy from Women into Public Life chaired the meeting and stressed how important it is to have the debate and to include men and women in that debate.

Co-founder of 50:50 Fiona Buckley travelled from Cork to inspire us about how and why the group started and how important it is for women to seize the opportunity and the challenge. She also explained the basics about the gender quota bill (Electoral Amendment (Political Funding) Act) which is due to be introduced in the Seanad in the next few weeks. She stressed that the amendment is to put more women on the ballot paper and not to reserve seats for them in the Oireachtas; ultimately the voter will choose.

Eilish Corcoran talked about how women are “inspired” to do things, to get involved and to change things and how her organisation The Women’s Manifesto Project in Longford has changed the way the women involved view politics. She pointed out that they had learned that “change is hard and it takes time” but that encouraging women to understand and get involved in local politics was satisfying and worthwhile.

Chair of the Western Development Commission Helen Rochford Brennan told her story about getting involved in public life and that women remain underpresented in public life. She stressed that it is up to women to be “the change we wish to see in the world.”

Finola Brennan of the National Collective of Community Based Women’s Network in Donegal reminded us of the value of women at community level and said that it is our responsibility to challenge “the boy’s network” at every level – from town council to the Dail – to ensure that women are part of the fabric of decision making.

Women for Election, which is funded by the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland was represented by Niamh Gallagher who talked about how her organisation will aim to equip women in a practical way to take the step into politics – by providing training and mentoring to women who have an interest in stepping forward but who are unsure about a commitment to politics might mean.

Former Senator, TD and Minister for Education Gemma Hussey officially launched the group, saying that groups are setting up nationwide and are an indication of “The frustration women feel at the vritual exclusion of women from national politics.” Gemma has been involved with 50:50 since its establishment in 2010 and is a great advocate of the role of women in political life. She was a founding member of the Women’s Political Association in the 1971 and fully supports the pending legislation for gender quotas. However she called on Minister Phil Hogan to extend the quotas to the local elections in 2014 and called on 50:50 to lobby the Minister to that end.

The night ended with a glass of wine and a pledge to work hard.

The legislation on gender quotas is due to be introduced in Seanad Eireann on February 2 2012 by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.

Senator Susan O’Keeffe

Committee on Investigations

Added: 25 Jan 2012 20:06:45
NEW COMMITTEE TO PLACE CITIZENS AT HEART OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM Senator Susan O’Keeffe today launched the new Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service, Oversights and Petitions. The Committee will seek to focus its work on investigating and identifying improvements in the delivery of

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