Gender quotas will change an abysmal situation

LABOUR TD Joanna Tuffy (Letters, Jun 22) continues to argue against the proposed gender quota legislation without suggesting any realistic alternative to change the 15%-85% female to male ratio that is currently in place in the Dáil.

I am a member of the 50/50 group and I find it hard to comprehend why she spends so much energy and time attacking a proposal that can only improve the situation for both women and men. It is interesting that Tuffy mentions the grassroots — research has shown that women are very politically active at this level but until now their progress has been stopped from the top. Minister Phil Hogan’s suggested legislation is therefore a direct response to grassroots activists who need more than goodwill and charity from their respective parties in order to be supported. I would urge Tuffy and all other gender quota-sceptics to read up a bit more on the issue and familiarise themselves with what is taking place in other countries before embarking on a loud campaign countering efforts to change the abysmal Irish political situation.

Anna Kingston