Submitted 30 March 2012 by Niamh Bhreathnach Cllr. (Former Irish Minister for Education) in response to the question:
"What are the modalities and preexisting conditions (socioeconomic and legal) that facilitate setting up an all-women political party? What are the advantages and disadvantages of initiating an all-women party? Can you share experiences of countries/regions that have had all-women political party?"
Women’s Political Association
On the question of women’s’ parties in politics, I can only give a general response. Ireland did not go down the women’s’ only party route. We had a Women’s Progressive Association set up in the ‘70s which morphed into the Women’s’ Political Association by the end of that decade. Notable Irish women,Mary Robinson in particular, gave a strong voice to women through this association. Rather than form a political party par se it hosted meetings where speakersfrom our established parties spoke. Being a feminist of the ‘60s I was delighted to attend these meetings. During one of their public sessions I was inspired by a Labour Party speaker to seek membership of that Party. The Labour Party is affiliated to the Socialist International who hosts a women’s group(SIW) and my political education was certainly informed by its work.
Labour Womens’ National Council
I quickly became involved in the Labour Party’s women’s group. Access to the work of the SIW, helped us further our policy on having women elected. An international commitment to having women candidates on all ballot papers gave our national party the impetus to research the need for gender quotas. Internally we created a quota system for Party committees, I succeeded through this system.
Irish Parliament’s Role
Finally in the year 2012 it has been accepted that any reform of our Parliament must involve rule changes if more women are to be elected, we only have 14% women elected today, although theLabour Party’s result is higher at 24%. Passing through the twohouses of Parliament at this time is an Electoral Reform Bill which includes the right to impose fines on any party contesting future General Elections with a ballot paper featuring less than 30% women candidates.
Conclusion
At times I envied countries were there were list systems operating or where women’s parties were in existence. But now that we in Ireland have finally accepted the need for quotas, we are being challenged by a number of women, in and outside our Parliament who argue against the use of quotas. I would love to see this aspect of having women involved properly researched. How will democracies benefit from greater participation of women? What policies come up the priority list? Why are a majority ofwomen still convinced that governing is best done by men.? Good outcomes need to be shared, problems discussed and targets set and achieved. Whether women only parties would have achieved more is a moot point, at some stage whether participating in Government or a coalition opposition, perhaps a women’s party’s clout could have achieved more but I look at how the Green Parties have come and gone in Europe and wonder whether they are discussingmain-streaming eco friendly policies across the main political movements and whether their experience could inform ours
Submitted 30 March 2012 by Niamh Bhreathnach Cllr. (Former Irish Minister for Education) in response to the question:
"What are the modalities and preexisting conditions (socioeconomic and legal) that facilitate setting up an all-women political party? What are the advantages and disadvantages of initiating an all-women party? Can you share experiences of countries/regions that have had all-women political party?"
Women’s Political Association
On the question of women’s’ parties in politics, I can only give a general response. Ireland did not go down the women’s’ only party route. We had a Women’s Progressive Association set up in the ‘70s which morphed into the Women’s’ Political Association by the end of that decade. Notable Irish women,Mary Robinson in particular, gave a strong voice to women through this association. Rather than form a political party par se it hosted meetings where speakersfrom our established parties spoke. Being a feminist of the ‘60s I was delighted to attend these meetings. During one of their public sessions I was inspired by a Labour Party speaker to seek membership of that Party. The Labour Party is affiliated to the Socialist International who hosts a women’s group(SIW) and my political education was certainly informed by its work.
Labour Womens’ National Council
I quickly became involved in the Labour Party’s women’s group. Access to the work of the SIW, helped us further our policy on having women elected. An international commitment to having women candidates on all ballot papers gave our national party the impetus to research the need for gender quotas. Internally we created a quota system for Party committees, I succeeded through this system.
Irish Parliament’s Role
Finally in the year 2012 it has been accepted that any reform of our Parliament must involve rule changes if more women are to be elected, we only have 14% women elected today, although theLabour Party’s result is higher at 24%. Passing through the twohouses of Parliament at this time is an Electoral Reform Bill which includes the right to impose fines on any party contesting future General Elections with a ballot paper featuring less than 30% women candidates.
Conclusion
At times I envied countries were there were list systems operating or where women’s parties were in existence. But now that we in Ireland have finally accepted the need for quotas, we are being challenged by a number of women, in and outside our Parliament who argue against the use of quotas. I would love to see this aspect of having women involved properly researched. How will democracies benefit from greater participation of women? What policies come up the priority list? Why are a majority ofwomen still convinced that governing is best done by men.? Good outcomes need to be shared, problems discussed and targets set and achieved. Whether women only parties would have achieved more is a moot point, at some stage whether participating in Government or a coalition opposition, perhaps a women’s party’s clout could have achieved more but I look at how the Green Parties have come and gone in Europe and wonder whether they are discussingmain-streaming eco friendly policies across the main political movements and whether their experience could inform ours