Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Will the Minister of State consider this point? One of the biggest problems in creating space for women in politics or in various organisations is right-wing and conservative women who, having become successful in their own way, feel they should pull up the ladder behind them. These women often say: "If I did it, they can do it." This is a serious point. I have dealt with this problem in the trade union movement and elsewhere. The objection is well intentioned. Some women say they do not want things to be made easier for them. Time and history have shown things do not work quite that way.

The proposal in the report we are discussing takes a much broader view and looks at how we might deal with this question. The report deals with the quota issue. Usually, when one mentions the word "quota", one puts it in italics and puts on one's suit of mail in anticipation of people saying: "Watch out. Stand back. We are not having this." The quota issue is dealt with very cleverly in this regard in the report. The quota referred to is not a quota of outcome. It does not determine how many or what percentage of women have to be elected. It is a quota of opportunity. That is a very clever device and one that should be given a real chance and supported. There are two points to be made in this regard. Those women who feel inclined to oppose this system should stand back, forget about their own circumstances and consider the fact that they have been successful in a system that is not woman-friendly in many ways. They should also look at how we need to make this happen. Why do we need to make it happen? I am not a great believer in creating huge structures to encourage greater participation. The Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, and I differ slightly in that regard. I believe participation is a means to an end. There is bad decision-making where there is not a gender balance among the decision-makers.