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Eamon Ryan

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Last night, Ireland became just the SECOND country in the world to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency, after the United Kingdom began the proceedings on May 1.

A Fianna Fáil amendment to the Oireachtas report on Climate Action was accepted by the Opposition parties and Government without a vote, which led to this vital development.

Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton, who acts as Chair of the Climate Action Committee praised the vote as "an important statement" but stressed that "now we need action."

16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg welcomed Ireland' progress, and posed the valuable question to other countries around the world, "Who is next?" 

The young Nobel Peace Prize nominee has been pivotal in starting the school strikes around the globe to protest government lack of action on ecological breakdown.

Naughton claimed that Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton would come back with new proposals soon to the Dáil. The Chair also asserted that she looked forward to working "with all parties and none" to scrutinise them.

Eamon Ryan, leader of the Green Party, said tonight’s declaration came under quite“unusual circumstances” after he moved the Fianna Fáil motion into the Dáil without any of their TDs being present in the chamber.

Ryan continued by saying “it will be of little meaning unless we are now willing to act on the recommendations of the Committee.”

He vehemently warned that "declaring an emergency means absolutely nothing unless there is action to back it up. That means the Government having to do things they don't want to do".

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Climate Love Ireland (@climateloveireland) on

Deputy Bríd Smith, of Solidarity/People Before Profit, said she was "delighted" with the declaration, but expressed her concern over whether or not the Government will support her Climate Emergency Measures Bill next month.

The Bill seeks to limit oil and gas exploration. Fianna Fáil climate action spokesman Timmy Dooley moved the amendment, but when the vote came before the House it was put forward by Deputy Ryan,

There were only six TDs in the chamber and none of them were from Fianna Fáil, which speaks volumes. The Green Party Leader stated that, "We have declared a climate emergency in our own Irish way."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Irish Doctors for Environment (@irishdocsenv) on

Ireland has hit the headlines in recent times over our dire attempts to tackle climate change. The nation was ranked the worst in Europe in a report published in December. 

The Climate Change Performance Index ranked Ireland 48th out of 56 countries, with a score of 40.84. This is dangerously low, considering the EU average is 60.65.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has bluntly referred to Ireland as a “laggard” on the issue, and the country is set to miss emission reduction targets and face significant EU fines as a result.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by schoolCED (@global_climate_emergency_now) on

A Citizens' Assembly will consider the issue of a biodiversity emergency. A United Nations report has only just hit the world, stating that almost one million species are facing extinction because of humankind's damage to the planet.

Sinn Féin's Brian Stanley had also called for a climate emergency to be declared, but there were no Sinn Féin TDs in the Dáil chamber when the amendments were put. The lack of representation from major parties did not go unnoticed.

Feature image: PressFrom

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Women for Election CEO Ciairín de Buis has called on women to run in elections this coming May, and for parties to encourage female candidates.

There have been more Seáns and Johns than elected to Dáil Éireann that women overall, according to  data analysis of all elected TDs since 1918

Yesterday saw a crowded audience gather in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street to hear a panel discussion organised by Women for Election, titled; “Will 2019 be Ireland's Year of #MoreWomen?” 

The panel was chaired by journalist Alison O'Connor, and included Lisa Chambers TD (Fianna Fáil), TD (Green Party), Senator Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent), Cllr Madeleine Johansson (People Before Profit) and Kate O'Connell TD (Fine Gael).

The event asked politicians about the chance of more women running and winning elections this year, and how parties are taking action to help improve gender balances in the political sphere.

In our last local elections in 2014, only 21 percent of electives were female councillors, compared to 16 percent in 2009.

There has undoubtedly been a swell in political activism in Ireland over the last few years, especially due to the Repeal movement, and the panel were discussing whether this energy would make it to the polls and ballots.

Women for Election CEO Ciairín de Buis commented; “2019 has at least two elections, possibly more. Last year we held a series of training events in Dublin, Cork and Galway covering communication strategies, campaigning and canvassing."

He continued; I’ve met dozens of women who are running in the locals and Europeans this year. We’ve also worked with women and their campaign team who are preparing for the next General Election, whenever that may be.”  

22 percent of TDs are women currently, a historic high, but still too low.

De Buis continued; “The appetite for more women to enter politics is there and I, and Women for Election, want to help any woman thinking about running to have the courage and confidence to put her name on the ballot, either with a party nomination or as an independent.”  

Green Party leader and TD Eamon Ryan mentions the praise-worthy work of former Green Party TD and former Minister of State Mary White’s role in the establishment of gender quotas for party candidate lists. 

Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell refers to the centennial celebration of certain women securing the right to vote, noting that this has added to the conversation around women's role in politics in Ireland.

“The celebration of 100 years since some women first achieved the right to vote has focused the mind on our incomplete democracy,” says Deputy O’Connell. 

“Whilst mindful of the progress we have made in terms of female representation it is still shocking that 78% of those in Dáil Éireann are men.

"Leaders must now act by example. The time for acceptance of anything less than an equal male to female ratio is nigh on over." she concluded.

Non-for-profit Women for Election will be hosting training throughout 2019 for women, as well as hopefully organising an online course.

Feature image: www.womenforelection.ie 

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