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ONE OF RTÉ’s preeminent female presenters, Keelin Shanley, believes that the upcoming general election will be fascinating to cover in terms of seeing how gender quotas in parties will work.
In a recent interview with TheJournal.ie, the Late Debate presenter questioned whether they will make a difference or whether they will just be extra names on tickets.
“It is an option that they will add random females, knowing full well that they will just transfer straight back to the male candidate,” she said.
“Or they could make the effort. I actually support [gender quotas] now but it’s not the full picture.
We need a fundamental change on how to structure and help the candidates.
“I have spoken to many politicians about this and they start out thinking that you achieve on your own merits but, then, the longer they are in it, they realise it’s not working. The more experienced politicians have come back to the idea of quotas. There is obviously something wrong with the structure.
I actually don’t think broadcasting is as bad as politics.
However, on her own show (she has just taken over Late Debate duties on RTÉ Radio One), she said there is a definite effort to get more female voices on air.
“It is important that broadcasting reflects back to what society is like.
“I think women giving their opinions is a key issue,” she says. “We have Miriam and Marian and Áine but other voices are important too. On Morning Edition, we were keen to get new faces and voices on air. With Late Debate, we’re trying to work hard on bringing those people out.”
And radio is a good place to start for those new voices. It is a more relaxed and intimate medium, she says.
“Not that we don’t like worrying about hair and makeup, but you don’t have to,” she adds, jokingly, pointing to the constant commentary on how women look on TV.
As for her own future, for the moment, she’s happy to be double-jobbing and keeping fingers in both the broadcasting pies through the Late Debate and The Consumer Show.
“I am happy to be at RTÉ for the next while, doing the two shows. I also really enjoy covering for Seán O’Rourke. The thing about broadcasting is every programme is like starting a new job. It’s not like I’ve been at the same desk all these years. In a way, it’s not the same as having to move job in other industries. Here, you are going from team to team.
“But, still, never say never.”
Gender quotas are a form of communism – you get the same reward whether you deserve it or not.
How about a quota rule in favour of non-teachers standing for election?
Gender quotas at access but not at outcomes.
Pontius do you not think gender quotas
Have been in operation throughout our history? Just because they have worked for men up until now doesn’t mean that they were not there
If you oppose gender quotas you are sexist. It’s as simple as that.
The State Run Broadcaster.
AND WHAT A STATE WE ARE IN? LOL.
What about a bit of Independence from RTE for a change…i listened to sean o rourke yesterday and it was the second time in a week that there was mob rule towards a Sinn fein politican…there a disgrace and sit in comfy public sector jobs with big fat pensions
blah blah blah – O Rourke is not biased he does the same to all politicians – its just that it registers in SF’s supporters smaller brains as being biased when one of their own is being interviewed. I want the media to pull apart Sinn Féins records if they are going to be in power… all the other parties have in the past been in government and have had years of scrutiny- its only right that all the policies and practices be routed over with a fine tooth comb. If media didn’t they wouldn’t be doing their jobs…
I expect them to do the same with all the parties that’s their job… if the politicians can’t handle it they’re in the wrong jobs.
RTE are totally biased on many issues.
As for gender quotas, a candidate (whether in politics or in media) should be selected on the basis of their actual ability, not their gender.
Gender Quotas are a form of reverse discrimination.
Why are Sinn Fein supporters such wusses when it comes to interviews. It’s not bias to interview a Sinn Fein interview.
Zoe do you think, therefore, that the
Dominance of men in positions of power up to and including the
Present Day automatically means that men are always the best possible people to hold these positions? Unlikely
@ Bridget – a lot of people who are “in power” dont deserve to be there, regardless of their gender. Introducing gender quotas would just increase the number of people in power who don’t deserve to be there.
Sergeant Yates is back. He is an expert in political partisanship. It is his party, right or wrong, mostly when wrong. Sergeant Yates brings down all discussion to political name calling and party hackery.
He turns interest debate into tedious and boring FG is always right. He sings one tune and never tires of it.
Ahh well Saturday mornings cannot be absolutely perfect. I’ll pop off and leave it to Sergeant Yates to engage in his dreary party political invective.
Platform over to you Sergeant.
I’ve never supported or voted for Fine Gael in my life!.. the only hack between us is you obviously.
You don’t support FG! Laughing. Yeah, right.
Odd as this may seem, it’s actually not illegal to support Fine Gael. It’s not like it’s a banned paramilitary organisation or something.
Neal, it is interesting though how FG supporters make repeated comments with adoring and UN conditional support for FG and sending FG at every opportunity and attacking all other political parties whilst proclaiming that they have never been members of FG or ever supported FG.
It’s odd and disturbing when a political party has zealot supports who believe their party of choice can do no wrong. That’s a feature of FG support.
RTE is just one long party political broadcast for government.
What’s on RTE news right now? Sinn Fein Ard-fheis.
The collective average IQ of Derry has halved since Friday morning.
I dont think you have an IQ Sergent.
RTE interviewers and broadcasters don’t bite the hand that feeds them.
More spin and lies from the state propaganda machine
RTE sometimes remind me of ‘Pravda’ in the Soviet Union. A more highly paid and glamorous version. But the ideology is not much different.
Today there is a planned protest outside the RTE studios today, about the bias of our state propaganda machine. Very suspect timing of this interview.
To the total amusement of Denis O’Brien’s broadcasting wing.
Now where’s my tinfoil hat?
When is the government going to privatise RTE?
In RTE, broadcasting IS politics.
I would like to see more women in politics but not by imposition, gender quotas can only lead to a weakening of an already week gene pool.
We don’t, need more Mary Coughlans or Michelle Mulherins who are only a liability on the state but women like Clare Daly or Maureen O’ Sullivan are a welcome addition.
Gender quotas let’s see from the last crowd we had O rourke,Hannifin, calamity coughlan, Harney etc And with this crowd we have Michelle the fornication from Mayo.
Best person for the job regardless of gender,If by having quotas should it mean that male dominated occupations/industries should also do the same with a 59/50 split.
And the same with female occupations?
Gender quotas , affirmative action , positive discrimination ,patriarchy , gender politics ,pay gap myth, political correctness ,communist horseshite logic right under our noses.
There’s a simple system to make elections fair , the many millions that the main political parties take from the taxpayer need to be used to put 2 candidates one of each gender on each ticket mark the box of your choice with yes and the other with a no, let the voter decide.
Democracy is what we want ,not more undemocratic nonsense from gender ideologues looking for an undemocratic leg up into the big job.
Did she ever apologise for that appalling “make the dead walk” comment?
Especially when she was interviewing I can shout louder than you Burton a while back.talk about an easy chat, she was slobbering all over Burton telling her she was having a great game. I changed channels before I got the sick bucket
The gender quotas in parties will not work because people will always vote for the same ould gobs…tes of the country again and again… So it will just keep things the same?
In my view RTE are pro-government because that is who holds their purse strings?
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