Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Sometimes one can lead by example and sometimes one can make something a prerequisite. To take the scenario the Senator mentioned, if the female member of whatever caucus simply refused for a variety of reasons, there would be other females available from, perhaps, a different caucus who would get it. Practice varies in different local authorities. In some cases, the practice is winner takes all for whoever happens to be the dominant group. In others, there is a pro rata sharing. In my local council, Dublin City Council, there was a pro rata distribution of members in different seats. Perhaps that is the way to go, through local government reform, to provide for proportionality in the different sub-committees of the local authority. However, if it is the case that a group that is predominantly male is hoping to control the ETB and if it wishes to maximise its strength, it will have to incorporate females in that grouping. Politicians act rationally when it comes to matters such as this. If we make it a prerequisite that it must be a mixed team in terms of gender balance, it is up to the common sense of the political leadership, rather than forcing one person to do it who, for all sorts of reasons, might simply say that she does not wish to do it.

With regard to Senator Bacik's request to change the wording of "the regulations may provide" in section 5, I am open to changing the word to "shall". I will be subject to the advice of the female Attorney General.