A DUBLIN city councillor has expressed regret over his use of the word
‘childbirth’ in a controversial article he wrote for Northside People about women in politics.
Cllr Tom Brabazon (FF), who represents the Beaumont-Donaghmede area, recently submitted an opinion piece to this newspaper outlining his opposition to the introduction of gender quotas for female candidates in the next general election.
Under new legislation, at least 30 per cent of candidates fielded by political parties must be women. Parties that don’t comply with the new rules will face sanctions in the form of State funding cuts.
While insisting he is supportive of female candidates, Cllr Brabazon described the legislation as
“completely misconceived
? and said it will result in
“the worst type of tokenistic patronisation of women
?.
“Yes, there should be women candidates and lots of them; in an ideal world up to 50 per cent,
? he wrote.
“But setting up a glass ceiling against men and thereby stifling male talent, simply on the basis of gender, is utterly perverse and fundamentally anti-democratic.
?
However, Brabazon’s view that women candidates should have experience of childbirth was met with widespread condemnation and drew the ire of female members of his own party.
The most contentious section of his article reads:
“We should want real women with real life experience of the education system, the workplace, childbirth, child care, managing money in tight situations and general life.
?
The article was strongly criticised by fellow party members Senator Averil Power and Cllr Deirdre Heney. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also distanced himself from Mr Brabazon’s comments and indicated he would be speaking to the city councillor about the matter.
Senator Power claimed Mr Brabazon’s comments about childbirth were
“incredibly offensive
? and
“deeply insensitive
? to women who were unable to get pregnant.
“Whether a woman has children or not is a personal issue that should not be used against her in any workplace, including politics,
? Senator Power told Northside People.
“Female politicians have long complained of male rivals drawing attention to the fact they have children and questioning if they will be able for the job as a result.
“Now it seems women without children can expect to be subject to unfair remarks about their family status also. Similar remarks would never be made about a man.
?
She added:
“All politicians, male or female, should be judged on the basis of their skills and track record and not be subjected to unfair and irrelevant criticism of their family status.
?
The furore over the Northside People article received extensive coverage in national newspapers and on radio shows, including Pat Kenny’s Newstalk programme and RTÃ?’s
‘Today’ with Sean O’Rourke.
Cllr Brabazon was also slated for his comments on social media.
However, Cllr Brabazon, who intends to seek a nomination from Fianna Fáil to contest the next general election, regrets his reference to childbirth in the article and sees now how it might have caused offence.
“In retrospect, I think another word such as
‘parenthood’ might have been better,
? he said.
“It might have made the exact same point without creating any offence.
?
Cllr Brabazon also accepted that, in hindsight, he should have used the word
‘ordinary’ instead of
‘real’ when referring to women. He felt that the intention of his article was
“misinterpreted and taken out of context
? in the national media.
“I do regret if anyone has taken any offence or hurt by my article,
? he told Northside People.
“I have never got up in the morning with the intention of hurting or upsetting anyone.
?
He added:
“However, I stand over the fact that gender quotas will have a reverse discriminatory effect on men and that as a society I think the project should be rethought.
?
Cllr Brabazon believed his article was
“a well balanced piece
? and claimed he had also received positive feedback to it.
“I am surprised that one word was taken completely out of context and construed in a way which was never intended by me,
? he said.
“I am more than surprised by the way I was attacked by a party colleague. I would expect that from other parties, perhaps.
?
When asked if the episode had damaged him politically, Cllr Brabazon replied:
“I am always very realistic about political prospects – that’s in the hands of the voters.
?
He added that the article was written with the intention of promoting equality of opportunity between men and women and to highlight the issue of the
“discriminatory change
? to our democracy.
“The issue has been highlighted today throughout the national media and I am more than happy that the issue is now in the glare of the public eye,
? he stated.
“If I am damaged by promoting ideals I hold dear then I will have to live and die by that.
?