Madam, – On behalf of the 50:50 Group, I write in response to the controversy over party gender quotas in the Irish context. Ireland currently ranks 74th in the world in terms of female parliamentary representation with 25 female TDs (ie 15 per cent of the total number). Those who argue against measures to achieve greater balance in Irish electoral politics suggest that merit should prevail. From this perspective, these figures suggest merit-based outcomes at work.
An alternative reading of these figures suggests Ireland currently derives its leadership from a relatively small section of its population.
This outcome is problematic because the narrower the talent pool, the poorer the performance. Merit works in contexts where there is a fair degree of equality of opportunity. The gross under-representation of women in Irish electoral politics does not represent equality of opportunity.
The achievement of a balanced society – the presence and visibility of both men and women in Irish political life – is not simply the outcome of equality of opportunity, it is also about good governance. The absence of hardworking and talented women – and indeed other “minorities” – from Irish electoral politics denies our economy and society a diverse range of talents and abilities essential to Ireland’s recovery. It also means that women’s particular and diverse perspectives across a range of social and economic issues are inadequately represented. These outcomes are wholly unacceptable in a parliamentary democracy such as Ireland. – Yours, etc,