Gender quotas debated

BY FERN LANE

Carol Mary Fraser

During the debate on the party's organisation, constitution and rules, the thorny issue of the positive discrimination in the election of women to the Ard Chomhairle and other positions in the party was raised once again. The party's current policy, that 50% of the Ard Chomhairle must be made up of women members, was up for debate.

A motion attempting to reverse the decision to introduce a quota system was tabled by Ógra Connacht/ Uladh, whose delegate told the Ard Fheis that the issue of positive discrimination and quotas had been discussed at some length within the organisation. "Whilst we agree with and support the goals of the drive to promote women," he said, "we disagree with these methods".

"Positive discrimination, a bit like British intelligence, is a contradiction in terms," he said. "Many women, certainly in Ógra, feel patronised and insulted by mandatory quotas. Although I cannot speak as women, I can imagine what it would feel like if the tables were turned. I would be insulted if I thought I was elected to a position on the grounds of my gender rather than my abilities."

However, other delegates argued that the party had to be consistent in its approach to positive discrimination. If Sinn Féin argues that recruitment to the PSNI should be carried out on a 50/50 basis in order to address the historical imbalance in the force, then this policy should also be adopted for the party's own structures. The broader issue of the role of women in the party generally and why they do not come forward in sufficient numbers for election should also be addressed.

Speaking against the motion, which was defeated, Carol Mary Fraser told the conference that affirmative action should not be necessary. Unfortunately, however, she continued "direct action is sometimes necessary when we have to cope with centuries of cultural condition which has left its mark. If mechanisms such as this are not tried, then the status quo will prevail and women will not be represented, not only in Sinn Féin, but in politics generally."

The issue of the 1981 Hunger Strike was also raised during the debate by the Barney Boswell Cumann, North Belfast, which asked that Sinn Féin "take a fresh look" at the way in which the Hunger Strikers are commemorated. It was suggested that from 2005 the annual commemoration be held on the first Sunday in May and rotated around the areas from which the ten Volunteers came; Belfast, Bellaghy, Camlough, Derry City, Cappagh and Dungiven.

"Not only would this be a fitting tribute to their memory," said Sean Olibhear supporting the motion, "but also a tribute to their family their friends and comrades in their own areas. It would keep their memory alive in those areas and reach out to young people, particularly non-activists, who may not travel all the way to Belfast for one rally".