Labour seeks to link State funding of parties with "gender ratios"

[stringjack]

How could it be? Every citizen over 21 has a constitutional right to stand in any constituency regardless of sex, and every citizen over 18 has the right to vote. Any law which purported to restrict these rights would be unconstitutional.

First of all, you'd need to demonstrate that every citizen over 21 has a constitutional right to stand in any constituency regardless of sex. Secondly, this proposal didn't say anything about restrictions on candiates standing in a constituency - it referred to a different way of apportioning members of the electorate among constituencies.

[Odyessus]

First of all, you'd need to demonstrate that every citizen over 21 has a constitutional right to stand in any constituency regardless of sex. Secondly, this proposal didn't say anything about restrictions on candiates standing in a constituency - it referred to a different way of apportioning members of the electorate among constituencies.

I can only suggest that you read the Constitution.

[stringjack]

I can only suggest that you read the Constitution.

16.1.3 doesn't do it (at least, not without interpretation), and 16.7 therefore implies that it's doable. Have you got anything else to add?

[Odyessus]

16.1.3 doesn't do it (at least, not without interpretation), and 16.7 therefore implies that it's doable. Have you got anything else to add?

Only that you are wrong.

[stringjack]

Only that you are wrong.

Right. The trick, of course, is to show that.

[Odyessus]

Right. The trick, of course, is to show that.

If every citizen of the requisite age has the Constitutional right to stand or vote in elections regardless of sex, how could any law restricting such rights on grounds of sex be constitutional?

If a political party is refused state funding on the same terms as others on the grounds that they have nominated a candidate of the "wrong" sex, how can that not be unconstitutional, given that the government is prohibited from passing any law that places candidates under a disability because of their sex?


I would have thought this is quite clear. Fortunately the courts would have no trouble in understanding the matter. I suspect Labour know as much, and no such bill will actually appear.

This is just a political stunt.

[stringjack]

If every citizen of the requisite age has the Constitutional right to stand or vote in elections regardless of sex, how could any law restricting such rights on grounds of sex be constitutional?

None of the various versions of the proposal that have been suggested on this thread would restrict the right of anyone to stand for election to the Dáil. Per se, that is - the version of the proposal that you've suggested would restrict the ability of candidates to stand in certain constituencies, but it isn't obviously the case that not being able to stand in whatever constituency one likes constitues a disability or an incapacity as constitutionally defined. It's possible to interpret the provisions in that way, but you need some reasoning to get there...

If a political party is refused state funding on the same terms as others on the grounds that they have nominated a candidate of the "wrong" sex, how can that not be unconstitutional, given that the government is prohibited from passing any law that places candidates under a disability because of their sex?

...and even if you get that far, it doesn't straightforwardly follow that the proposed adjustments to funding for political parties would trigger the constitutional provision in question. (It'd be easier if the state were funding candidates directly, but if it's funding parties, the link is more tenuous.)

[Electro]

Gilmore,now wants to consolidate the female vote,marvellous man at the ould populism.

Not really. Modern "social-democracy" parties have a strong tendency towards this sort of thing. It's been Labour policy before Gilmore became leader.

The irony is the feminism deeply entrenched in leftist parties that informs this move also says parliament itself is "hierarchical" thus Patriarchal thus unworthwhile!

There's a vote-seeking motive alright, but it's not a new or atypical policy for the party.

[Mr.De-Regulation]

Would it not be legal to have separate constituencies for men and women - so instead of Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West 3-seat constituencies, you would have Donegal Female Voters and Donegal Male Voters both having 3-seats?

So if donegal have 1,000 women and 5,000 men, women get 5 times the representation?

[TradCat]

The bill was tabled by Cork South Central TD Ciarán Lynch, who moved it in the Dáil last night.

There are three female Labour Party public representative in Cork City and they are all related to Ciarán Lynch. Two were appointed to replace Lynch and his sister in law Kathleen on the City Council.

I think that's a bigger issue. Should extra funding be give to parties who do not turn politics into a family business?

If we add funding discrimination to nepotism in Irish politics we will end up governed by the daughters, sisters and nieces of local family bosses.

Like "Blair's babes" in England they will owe their positions to the party machine rather than the voters and will act accordingly.