Female representation and gender quotas
Senator Wilson congratulates the Senators on International Women’s Day and defends party efforts to promote female candidates, while Senator O'Donnell and Wilson trade remarks over Labour’s record on women candidates and quotas.
Like previous speakers, I wish our female colleagues a happy International Women's Day, as well as the general female population of the country. They are in the majority and I wish them well.
Right on cue, yesterday morning another baby girl arrived into the world in time to celebrate the day. She is the new daughter of our colleague, Senator Keith Swanick, and his wife, Aislinn. I wish him, Aislinn and little Rosa Pearl all the best in her life ahead. There must be something about Belmullet. I understand Rosa is Spanish for Rose and that there are many Roses around there. I am glad that there is another one.
Senator Kevin Humphreys congratulated himself and the Labour Party on introducing the gender quota in politics. It is unfortunate that it was necessary to do this and I hope all political parties, including my own, will put forward genuine female candidates, not token candidates, for election. I hope the Senator and his party will take note of this.
Comment on this
The gender quota did not apply to the Seanad election. Is it not extraordinary that the Labour Party was the only party to fail to put forward a female candidate for election? The Senator is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. It will not get him or his party anywhere. Fianna Fáil put forward female candidates both in the general election and the Seanad election and I am glad that a few of them were elected to both Houses.