LEGISLATION that was intended to encourage more women on to local government committees, should be scrapped immediately, according to a number of councillors, reacting to Independent councillor, Kathleen Leddin’s decision to step down as a long-standing member of Limerick Vocational Education Committee.
At a specially convened meeting of Limerick City Council, Cllr Leddin who, with her female council colleagues, Cllr Maria Byrne, FG and Cllr Orla McLoughlin, Labour, had been nominated to Limerick VEC, following last June’s local elections, told the meeting she would;d step down in favour of fellow Independent, Cllr John Gilligan.
In effect, a swap arrangement has been agreed between both councillors, with Cllr Gilligan taking the VEC membership and Cllr Leddin stepping into Cllr Gilligan’s membership of the Mid West Regional Authority.
The situation arose over a controversial gender issue which stipulates that the ratio of men to women on the Limerick VEC committee was in breach of regulations These regulations require the ratio of women to men on a VEC committee cannot exceed the ratio of women to men on the relevant city or county council, when added to the number on any relevant city or town council.
Leaders of the various political parties on the council criticised what they termed “ludicrous legislation” and said they would be writing to the Minister for Education on the issue.
Cllr Leddin said she considers it ridiculous that the ratio has reduced the number of women on the committee.
Wishing her colleagues, Cllr Byrne and McLoughlin the “very best,” she added:
“I feel we women should have bonded together and taken a firm stand on this but I’ve no intention of burning my bra at this stage.”
However, Cllr McLoughlin, Labour, told this newspaper that it was she who “asked Kathleen to stay strong.
“I instigated solidarity between us and said we should stand together against this ridiculous legislation instead of anyone standing down”.
Until the issue was resolved, no meeting of Limerick VEC could be held. As it is, the board elected, comprises of the FG councillors, Michael Hourigan, Maria Byrne, Denis McCarthy, Cormac Hurley, Jim Long and Diarmuid Scully, Independent, Cllr John Gilligan, Labour’s Cllr Orla McLoughin and Joe Leddin and FF, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon.
The excitement is not over, however, as, according to Cllr Michael Hourigan, “we still have to elect a chairperson and we will be looking for a Fine Gael chair – maybe Cllr Denis McCarthy”.
City councillors have called on City Hall management to convey in writing to the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, their difficulties with the gender balance legislation.
