@Joe Phillips: ????

Laws are ONLY written by what “some people” think.

Those people are the Legislature.

This is a key part of the Irish Constitution.

@thephantomshit: they already have the right to represent us. I’m not sure where yuo get the idea that they don’t.

@thephantomshit: he wasn’t being treated equally, that’s the point.

@Richard: He could run as an Independent and align with FF in the Dail. No Quota issue if he does that. The quota is set for a Party Affiliation to ensure a more gender equity within its representation. He can run as an Independent and have no issue.

@Hardly Normal: But he is. Men and women to fulfill 50% of the positions. 50/50. Equal.

@Ailbhe: How is being told you can’t run for election because we have to let a woman run instead equal?.

@Ailbhe: no he as an individual was not being treated equally to the woman they went with. Even if you agree in placing someone’s group identity above their individual identity in this case it is not equality of opportunity but an attempt to force equality of outcome.

@Ailbhe: how is it equal? Being told you can’t do that because you’re not a woman. On paper it might be equal 50/50 but realistically it’s not because he’s being denied the opportunity.

@Ailbhe: Why does a man looking for equality threaten you? And why do you insist on special treatment?

@Ailbhe: Do you call for that same equality in all positions that are mostly filled by men or just cherry picking the nice ones that you want to do? Equality should mean exactly that. Equality in all aspects of life not just in boardrooms and the Dail.

@Roy Dowling: Because women will be told the same if they reach 50% representation.

It’s basic maths folks. Given the amount of eejits on the journal that claim feminism is about taking over the world etc etc, holding us to a MAXIMUM 50% representation should be a welcomed move. You all seem so scared of women.

@Battaz: I welcome it. In fact I’ve campaigned for equality for men. Be it in the workplace, parental rights, or representation. Bring it on I say!

@Darren McCormack: Hi Darren, thanks for assuming I don’t call for equality in all positions. I do. I think it would be great to see equal numbers in all sectors. Areas particularly lacking are teaching, carers, the majority of HCP professions and even law is shifting to be majority women qualifying. I think these should be equal or as close as practicable.

Diversity of ideas, experience and representation benefit us all.

@Ailbhe: I asked you a question. I assumed nothing.

@Ailbhe: are you looking for equality of outcome (50:50 representation everywhere) or equality of opportunity? Because you can’t have both and if you give people equality of opportunity and become more egalitarian as a society the differences between the choices of men and women increase not decrease.
And how should we mandate for diversity of ideas? Would you be in favour of quotas for conservative viewpoints in the workplace and on boards?

@Ailbhe: You seem to think that people are afraid of women being equal. I don’t think they are. I think people are afraid of forced quotas which deny men from entering a career because they’ve met their quota based on your gender. I couldn’t give a rats ass if we have a male or female Taoiseach, doctor or nurse. I want the best person for the job.

@sVRCsaSg: I agree. I seen this report recently. In nordic countries that are seen to be more egalitarian, women and men are diverging more and more into “traditional” gender career paths.

@Ailbhe: Wrong. Doesn’t matter if women are told the same if they reach 50%. You claim your want equality, but your happy to use inequality to achieve it. That ain’t fair. Out of curiosity shall we put gender quotas on building sites, no men can be hired until women are 50% of the work force?. or how about child care, no women can be hired until 50% of the work force are men?

@sVRCsaSg: It’s not equality of opportunity though now is it? Society is more likely to vote for men, and not because they are more qualified. So it’s far from an equal opportunity. If candidates were voted for on merit, not based on assumptions and societal biases, it would all be fair. but it’s not. So either change the system, or ensure the system is equal.

@Darren McCormack: You’re not currently getting the best person for the job.

@Roy Dowling: Sounds like a plan!

@Ailbhe: half our society are women. By your own logic women voters are holding back women in politics by voting for men on merit instead voting for the best candidate.

@Roy Dowling: Yes….you’re getting it now.

@Ailbhe: Don’t see you or any other woman protesting outside a building site or creche looking for quotas though so we?.
Instead we see mothers getting together and forcing creche owners to sack male employees.

@Ailbhe: so then gender quotas arnt needed, whats needed is to educate voters on picking the right person.

@Ailbhe: Lot’s of men on here taking issue with gender quotas.

Is it because a) you don’t think there should be equal representation for women in the one role that shapes society’s legislature and how the country is run. If so, why?

or

b) you think there is a better way to achieve this (decades of faux equal opportunity have not yet achieved this). If so, how?

@Roy Dowling: It would take a HUGE societal shift in biases, predermination and prejudices to achieve that. Several decades of people trying to achieve this and we still live in a world where women are paid less and denied opportunities for promotion. So, if that’s not working, we need a catalyst. What else would you suggest?

@Ailbhe: I’m against gender quotas because it benefits woman in certain areas. if you want to introduce gender quotas it should be country wide and across all occupations eg. Politics, finance, health, construction, child care.
either every occupation be forced be 50/50 workforce or none of them.

@Ailbhe: because it’s a load of shit basically. I don’t care if there’s more female lawyer’s than men, or if there’s more male plumbers than women. These lads are voted in democratically and you just can’t go around saying there’s not enough female politicians, we’ll stop a man campaigning in this constituency to balance it country wide or vice versa.

@Hardly Normal: This is the only role that allows employees to change our laws and run our country. Plumbers etc just don’t equate.

@Roy Dowling: So is that a), you don’t think women should be equally able to legislate and govern?

@Ailbhe: no that’s not it at all. I think women can do those things aswell was any man. I also think women can wire an office aswell as any man( I should know as I was an apprentice to female sparks for a few months) yet you don’t see women demanding quotas in hiring electricians. Again if women want quotas for politics they have to accept half the workforce on a building site should be women , half the workers in creches should be men. If they really want quality then accept equality everywhere.

@Ailbhe: Where’s the proof that women are paid less for the same job? It’s well proven that men put in more hours and take less holidays than their female colleagues. Show me documented proof that takes account for this. There is nothing stopping a woman from being whatever she wants to be. Nothing stops any woman from running as a TD. So why aren’t they doing it?

@Roy Dowling: Electricians are not public representatives. False equivelancy.

@Darren McCormack: Google is your friend mate.

@Ailbhe: Is that your response to me looking for proof of a gender pay gap? Jaysus you’re hilarious. I guess I win that argument so. I’m done talking to you now. You’re boring me.

@Ailbhe: there’s a lot of different reasons people vote for certain candidates. From accents to hairstyle to height etc. You can’t justify forcefully pushing equality of outcome because sexism is out there in the ether.
Have you ever considered women aren’t putting themselves forward or engaging in politics as much as men because they’re not as interested in it? They’re not as interesting in becoming engineers or computer programmers so maybe it’s the case here too?
Women in general have been shown to care less about politics than men.

@Ailbhe: and before you say we need to break down the barriers or something what if the reserve is true (as is the case with traditionally gendered jobs) – that women are less likely to engage in politics the more egalitarian a society becomes? Can we then drop these sexist quotas?

@Ailbhe: bull sh|t it’s nothing to do with being public representatives. it’s because not many women want to do those kinds of jobs. I’d imagine you include. And as such you don’t care about equality there and are happy it’s a male dominant occupated. Simple fact it’s voters of this county are 50% male 50% female if you want more females in government get women to vote for the best candidate

@thephantomshit: this is not equality .. its gender preference.. best person should get any job on offer regardless of gender

@Ailbhe: you brought up different professions initially. You’re comments are foimtyou a disservice.

@Ailbhe: How come 99% of all construction site workers men? Also, how come the overwhelming majority of binmen men?

@Ailbhe: “Society is more likely to vote for men, and not because they are more qualified.” – Where is the evidence to suggest this? I couldn’t care less if a candidate is man or woman, black or white, young or old etc etc as long as they are competent and can perform the role they are running for.

@Ailbhe:
A) I have no issue with equal representation. The most important thing is that there is equal opportunity for both men and women. Nowadays, there is. I do have an issue with a slide towards soft totalitarianism that comes with the introduction of these quotas.
B) Yes, of course there are better ways. One of which is to encourage more woman to get into politics via campaigns. Look at what they are doing re woman in sport via the 20=20 campaign.

@Ailbhe:
Agree completely.
I was shocked and disgusted and repulsed all in equal hugely triggered measure this morning when my bins were being collected.. I was appalled to see a group, a boy’s club, of four pig men emptying out my bins full of dirty nappies and rotten food into the back of their truck, their chauvinist-mobile, then pull off down towards the city dump spewing their toxic masculinity all over the street on their way.

Then on my way to work I came across these horrible male brutes working for dynorod cleaning out the sewers, up to their elbows in human waste, laughing and joking uttering micro aggressions to each other.

Women need forced representation across the board I 100% agree with you.
Maybe someone like you would challenge these despicable bin men and I can look forward to seeing someone like you emptying my refuse or maybe even cleaning out my uncle’s septic tank in the short term future in the name of true beautiful equality.
You are a noble fighter for justice and I tip my hat to you.

@thephantomshit: meeting expectations is one of the great responsibilities of being a politician. What are talking about? Stop reading CNN and go watch some Jordan Peterson.

@Barry Somers: that’s a load of crap … best person for all jobs regardless of gender

@Adrian: look most people don’t support this nonsense. Hope he wins and that will put an end to this fascism.