Vol. 437 No. 2
8 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the progress to date of his request to all political parties to indicate their positions regarding the issue of the dual mandate as outlined by the Second Commission on the Status of Women; and the way in which he intends to pursue this reform in the interests of democracy and gender balance in politics.
My programme manager wrote to the political parties on 5 March last seeking their views on relevant recommendations of the Commission on the Status of Women. To date only the Labour Party and the Green Party have given substantive replies.
I would urge the other parties to let us have their views as soon as possible.
If I had known the details of the Minister's reply I would have asked him to be in attendance in the public gallery at a Dublin County Council meeting held yesterday when two hours were allocated to debating this matter. Does the Minister accept that the recommendation in the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women on the abolition of the dual mandate before the next election suggests that law reform is urgently required to enable parties select candidates before the next election?
It is not clear from the commission's report whether it advocates a change in the law or merely a change of practice. If an amendment of the law is required in that regard, that would be the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment. The views of all parties on this issue will have to be taken into account. I was interested to read that Deputy Sargent remained a member of Dublin County Council until yesterday when he resigned and he appears to be following the stated practice of his party. I received acknowledgements from the other parties to my correspondence but no substantive replies. I will send reminders to the parties to ascertain their views. There are various aspects to the commission's recommendations in regard to the dual mandate. When I receive the views of all the parties I will consider the matter further.
I suggest that the public confusion on the issue and the need for legislative change rather than unilateral change may be the reason the Minister has not received replies from other parties. That partly explains why the Greens had to work very hard to inform the public about what was happening. The Minister should not sit on the fence but should lead by example, as he has done in other areas, and bring forward proposals to explain to the public — who often take more note of what Ministers rather than what backbenchers say — the need for ending the dual mandate, regardless of whether he receives the support of other parties.
This is a matter which requires consensus if change is to be made in existing practices. For that reason I undertook consultation with all parties. I am disappointed that, apart from the Labour Party and the Green Party, none of the other parties has furnished substantive replies. I would need to know their views before attempting to progress the matter further in terms of local authority and European Parliament membership. As I indicated, I am quite happy to reopen discussions with other parties and I would ask them if they are yet in a position to furnish substantive replies to the queries raised with them.
Let us now deal with other questions.
May I ask——
I think I dealt quite liberally with the Deputy.
It is on the official record of the House and I would remind the Minister——
This is Question Time, Deputy, and reminders are not in order.
If the Minister looks at the debate on the European Parliament Bill he will see that there was general consensus among all parties for ending the dual mandate. Will the Minister speak to members from other parties in Dublin County Council who believe there is a need to end the dual mandate but that that cannot be done until the Minister——
I am sorry, Deputy, I am proceeding to deal with other questions to the same Minister.
