Press Release: Senator Bacik calls for Debate on Women's Participation in Politics

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Tuesday, 9th March 2010

BACIK CALLS FOR DEBATE ON WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

Speaking today in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik, together with colleagues in Fine Gael, called a vote to amend the order of business to allow for a debate to take place today on the Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee report on women's participation in politics.

Speaking about the issue, Senator Bacik said, "We were promised that a debate on women's participation in politics would take place today to mark International Women's Day, but now it is not on the agenda.

“This is an important issue on which we achieved consensus at the Justice Committee, and we need to have this debate in order to increase the numbers of women entering politics.

“Ireland has a shameful record, we still have a Dáil that is 86 per cent male, and our place in international rankings on women's representation has fallen in recent years. Action needs to be taken to change this."

ENDS.