Posted by David Farrell (January 20, 2012)
In a spirited opinion piece in today’s Irish Times, Daniel Sullivan takes issue with gender quotas (see here), describing the idea variously as wrong, unworkable and even ‘boneheaded’. He appears to have three main problems with the proposal. Read the rest of this entry »
14 Comments | 
women in politics | Tagged: gender quotas, Women | 
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Posted by David Farrell
Posted by David Farrell on behalf of the 50:50 Group (January 31, 2011)
Dear Deputy,
The 50:50 Group is a single issue national advocacy group that has come together to campaign for equal political representation in Irish Politics. Our desire for change reflects the public mood to move to a more inclusive form of politics. We are encouraged by your party’s publicly stated intention to reform and renew political structures and to put in place a new type of politics. Read the rest of this entry »
46 Comments | Electoral Reform, women in politics | Tagged: gender quotas, women in politics | Permalink
Posted by David Farrell
Sarah Carey’s article in today’s Irish Times is the latest contribution in the debate on whether we should consider adopting party-level gender quotas for the nomination of candidates. This article appears to me to be a particularly striking example of the combative rhetorical strategies that both sides of the debate have employed. Several opinion pieces on this topic have followed the structure: I am for/against gender quotas – now let me tell you why they are wonderful/terrible.
73 Comments | Uncategorized, women in politics | Tagged: gender quotas, Political reform, Women, women in politics | Permalink
Posted by Matthew Wall
David Farrell (August 4, 2010)
In today’s Irish Times Mary Minihan reports on a survey of the existing women TDs about their views on gender quotas and the consensus is distinctly against any such move for Ireland. This is on the back of the recent report of the Joint Committee of the Constitution’s call for steps to be taken to increase the numbers of women candidates fielded by the political parties. The Joint Committee stepped back from recommending party quotas on the grounds that they might be unconstitutional.
The top 10 parliaments in terms of representation of women
International evidence demonstrates that women quotas are very effective in increasing the proportions of women parliamentarians. Indeed, Rwanda provides an interesting example in this regard. So, the fact that legal advice suggests that such a move might be unconstitutional here, and the fact that most existing women TDs don’t want them means that, not for the first time, Ireland stands out as rather quirky. Should the constitutionality question be tested? Should existing women TDs be allowed to block women quotas?
83 Comments | women in politics | Tagged: gender quotas, women in politics | Permalink
Posted by David Farrell
Editors
Matthew Wall
ElaineByrne
Jane Suiter
Liam Weeks
Séin Ó Muineacháin
David Farrell
Eoin O'Malley
Gary Murphy
Michael Gallagher
Theresa Reidy
Adrian Kavanagh
Jennifer Kavanagh
Claire McGing
psaigenderpoliticssg
Ken McDonagh
johnobrennan
