International Women's Day - Irish Women in Political Life

Today on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, we need to reflect on the representation of Irish women in political life. So much progress for women has been achieved since 1911, for example Irish women now benefit from improved equality legislation and protection following Ireland's accession to the EU. However, that only 15% of the 163 seats of the next Dáil are filled with women poses many questions about real equality and representation in Ireland and Europe.

Across the EU one hundred years later, 17% of women are ranked in the poverty bracket; women earn 17.8% less than their male counterparts; only 3% of women are heading up large companies; women are concentrated in low-paid and part-time jobs; women account for the vast majority of lone parents and undertake most of the unpaid care work and a very high percentage are still subjected to domestic violence.

Irish female representation in national public office is extremely low when compared with the low EU average of 24% of women representatives across 27 national parliaments. Women in the European Parliament fare better and represent 35% of MEPs.

We need to become more excited about the values and skills that women bring to politics and business. In order for true representation to become a reality we need to invoke temporary quotas to kick-start the process of true representation. Rwanda for example with the help of quotas is the only Parliament in the world with equal representation.

Political parties have given commitments to increase female representation. The most recent result at 15% demonstrates that these commitments have not worked! NUI Graduates have however one more immediate opportunity before the end of April in the Seanad election to help elect capable representative women.

There are four women candidates out of 27 running on the NUI panel. Since the history of our State only TWO women have been elected onto this panel in the Seanad. Helena Concanon born in 1878, elected in 1933, politician, historian, author and professor of history in UCG and Gemma Hussey, born in 1938, elected in 1977 who then went onto become Minister of Education. This fact is embarrassing for a modern State.

You have an opportunity to balance the scales for women's representation. Make your vote count!

Berlin - The Then and the Now

Sitting at the Legal Affairs Committee meeting in the European Parliament today, I was struck by the then of 1989 so connected to the now. Personally, this day was one depicted in our history books but over the past days the acknowledgement of this special day has brought the reality of history to life. For example, three MEPs who have been elected to the current European Parliament, Speroni, Lamassoure and Casini were members of the legal affairs commitee this day twenty years ago and were in Berlin on the 8th November to discuss the legal basis of Berlin. They explained today that nobody on the 8th November 1989, no matter how close to the situation, could have foretold that the following day an announcement would be made allowing East Berliners to cross over to West Berlin. They viewed the events of the following day personally from the window of the Reichstag. It is said that some GDR politicians foresaw the wall only some days before as lasting for another hundred years. Interestingly, Franz-Ludwig Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, MEP was also present, son of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg who led an assasination attempt on Hitler 20 July 1944.

Ireland would also be involved in helping the European Economic Community which automatically had to prepare for German unification. In "The Reasons Why, I recall that "During this critical moment, the Irish were in charge of the EU Council Presidency chaired by former Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey...Mr. Haughey set out his priorities for the Presidency as: Calling the special Dublin summit on German reunification; bringing central and eastern Europe into a united Europe;..."Fourteen years later, the Irish would also be in central position to manage the uniting of a family which had artificially been separated by war. "How ironic that exactly six decades afer World War II, on 1 May 2004, it was the Irish as President of the Council who would host the "Day of welcomes", the homecoming, for ten new Member States who had been knocking on the European Union door since 1998. Seamus Heaney reminded us of the auspiciousness of the location of the Phoenix Park and the symbol of the Phoenix - renewal. Europe was indeed renewing itself, coming from a place of war and tyranny to peace and democracy. A day to be proud of indeed! Afterall, at this key and very specific point in time, Ireland was not only at the heart of Europe, it was running Europe. Berie Ahern was President of the Council, Pat Cox was President of the European Parliament and the Secreary General of the European Commission was David O' Sullivan an Irish man..."

Introducing the Book Project on the European Union