Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Regretfully, I oppose the amendment although my gut is with Senator van Turnhout. As the Minister pointed out, in the report I authored for the justice committee on women's participation in politics in 2009, from which we have all been quoting, the model recommended was the original Belgian model derived from the 1994 Smet-Tobback law which stipulated a figure of one third. At the time the recommendation seemed relatively radical and it is great to be debating against a more radical alternative of 40% now. However, the Belgian model provides us with a useful starting point. I am glad the figure will rise to 40% in Belgium and it took quite some time to rise to the current status of 50% following the 2002 law. However, Belgium has had a quota of 30% in place since 1994 and it has had the desired effect in moving the numbers upwards.

A strong report published by the Interparliamentary Union on gender sensitive parliaments examined this topic and referred to some countries which have moved to a figure of 50%. I am keen to see us going in that direction. As the leader of a group in the Seanad with 50% women representation and as a member of a party with 100% female MEPs, that is, all three of them-----