Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. The debate has moved onto whether the quota should be 40% or 30%. Thank God we are back to item No. 1 on the Irish political agenda; namely, the split. The former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, once suggested that a piece of political research might work in practice, but questioned whether it would work in theory. We are debating whether a piece of political theory will work in practice by making a genuine difference.

We all agree with Senator van Turnhout's remark that women are not disinterested in politics. I wonder whether we are trying to bring about a perfect form of politics. Have we decided that perfect politics means absolute equality of representation between the sexes, the generations, the socioeconomic sectors of society and urban and rural areas? I do not think politics can be perfect. That is why this legislation will pose as many questions as it will answer. Politics is a bit like life in the sense that there are no clear, sharp or black and white definitions.

Thousands of men and women in this country are hugely interested in politics but do not wish to be elected politicians. They are happy to be political party officers, researchers, press office officials, branch or cumann members, canvassers or organisers. They are politicians who have chosen not to put their names on a ballot paper. I wonder whether we are getting it wrong in our desire to develop perfect politics with what we believe to be total equality. The design of perfect politics should start with a review of our electoral system.