Quotas would open up system of abuse

UNLIKE Anna Kingston (Letters, June 25) I fully support Deputy Joanna Tuffy in her opposition to the proposed gender quotas legislation.

In doing so, Ms Tuffy displays a greater appreciation of the value of our democracy than her colleagues who are prepared to allow the integrity of our democracy to be undermined in order to appear to be trendy.

Seeking to increase the number of women in politics is a perfectly legitimate political aspiration for any political party.

However, in facilitating and supporting the democratic process, the State should be party neutral, ideologically neutral and policy neutral.

To use the apparatus of the State to manipulate the selection of candidates by political parties is a corruption of democracy and an attack on our constitutionally protected freedom of association.

If Minister Phil Hogan succeeds with his plan then it will be open to any future government to similarly abuse its position to attempt to predetermine the demographic make-up of our democratic institutions.

Matt Harper

Clones Road

Monaghan