Miriam and Olwyn show why women avoid politics
Published: Monday, August 30, 2010
WHEN oh when is the big shiny penny going to drop with the XY chromosomes that dominate the governing part of the body politic in this country?
Could the various hand-wringers in Leinster House perhaps stop moaning about the sad dearth of women in Irish political life long enough to examine the big fat clues dropped for them yesterday by two smart and savvy females?
For in the space of a couple of hours, one woman TD announced she was quitting politics at the next general election, while a short while later another made it crystal-clear that she had no intention of entering the political arena by running for President in 2011.
First, Laois-Offaly deputy Olwyn Enright announced she would not be running for Fine Gael in the next election, citing "changed personal circumstances" -- she is pregnant with her second child, having given birth to a son last November.
In a statement, she said: "My personal circumstances have changed greatly since I was first elected and in the longer term, with a young family, I will not be in the position to give the enormous commitment the position requires, and that my constituents deserve."
Then at lunchtime yesterday, RTE broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan rained firmly on the fiesta that had broken out at the weekend following a newspaper report that she was considering running for the Aras in next year's election.
In a brief, one-paragraph statement, she ruled herself out of the race, saying that while she was "delighted and honoured" that some people were considering her as a potential presidential candidate, she would not be standing for the position in the 2011 election.
Although the 'Prime Time' presenter didn't elaborate on her reasons for taking herself out of contention, it's believed that the primary rationale was simply that the huge demands of such a position are incompatible with rearing eight children -- her youngest is four years old and starts school this week.
Which is a pity -- for thanks to Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, the Irish presidency has been transmogrified from being a grand handy number for superannuated politicians into a full-on, demanding and high-profile job. And as it looks likely that a massively cheesed-off electorate aren't in a mood to put a politician of any stripe into the park next year, chances are that the political parties may look outside their ranks for a potential president.
And as an accomplished communicator and formidable juggler of a high-pressured career and a hectic family life, Miriam couldn't have been easily dismissed as a credible runner. Though it's hard to figure out whether her unabashed femininity would be a help or hindrance to her chances.
Even the normally measured Pat Kenny got a bit giddy yesterday morning during a discussion on his show about his RTE colleague running for the job. Pat reprised with gusto the purple prose description of the 'Prime Time' presenter penned by pundit and author David McWilliams.
"Miriam winks, with a faint pout and the casual lick of those hyper-glossed lips. You're mine now, boy, she signals. This is my web you've just walked into. Clothes on or off," Pat read aloud, before then playing a clip from one of her chat-shows that featured sports commentator Marty Morrissey in mega-flirt mode with Miriam.
And there's no doubt her candidacy would have certainly agitated the unevolved section of the electorate who are of the opinion that it's a "man's turn" for the presidency. (Funny, there's no record of any concerned citizens stepping up after presidents one to three, Douglas Hyde, Sean T O'Kelly and Eamon De Valera, clocked up 21 years in a row between them, to suggest that it was time a woman had a go).
So yesterday was a dispiriting day for Mna na hEireann. As it stands there is a vertiginous gender imbalance in Irish politics. The statistics make for seriously gloomy reading: in the Dail itself only 13pc are women, rising to 19pc for local councillors.
Since the foundation of the State, there have been only 11 female ministers, and of the total 4,452 Dail seats filled since 1918, 219 -- or 4.9pc -- of these have been held by women. Ireland is currently ranked a miserable 87th in the world for the representation of women in national parliament. At this rate, the National Women's Council of Ireland calculates that it'll take 370 years before the gender balance in the Dail chamber is equal -- even Anglo Irish Bank may be in profit before that.
And now with Olwyn Enright's decision, the gender balance is slipping further. But although politics may have soured somewhat for Olwyn since she found herself on the losing side of last June's heave against Enda, she was adamant that her decision to step down from political life was "for one reason only -- family commitments". She explained that the system makes it "very difficult" for a rural TD to juggle family and work.
And she's correct.
The work days are long (though so too are the holidays), and the childcare facilities in Leinster House -- as in so many places of work -- are non-existent.
The lack of State support for women who wish to continue working outside the home after having children is a major obstacle for career-minded mothers.
The political parties can throw as many shapes as they like about introducing quotas to correct the gender balance, but it won't make a blind bit of difference unless the old-fangled, old-boy political system is changed to facilitate the juggling likes of Olwyn and Miriam.
- Lise Hand
Irish Independent