FORMER PROGRESSIVE Democrats deputy leader Liz O’Donnell has called for a “broad coalition of renewal” in Irish politics.
Ms O’Donnell, who lost her Dublin South seat in the last general election and now works in public affairs consultancy, said she would “never say never” to a return to politics, and said a new party should perhaps be formed.
“Not even a party but maybe . . . a movement, a broad coalition of renewal; people who want to renew politics.”
Asked by Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ 2FM if she had fallen out with former PD leader Michael McDowell, Ms O’Donnell said that had not happened.
“No, we never fell out, no...Big personalities in a small party; we all had very strong views. It was a party, but it was kind of a coalition of...interested people, and I think maybe there’s a need for more, maybe a new party, something like that...”
She said she would not be running in the next general election.
“Ironically, it’s funny now that my children are reared I would actually have more time but your opportunities don’t come. It’s like representing Ireland on the rugby team, it doesn’t come at the right time.”
The former minister of state for foreign affairs said there were complex reasons for the low numbers of women in politics.
She expressed disappointment at the findings of a survey of sitting women TDs in The Irish Timeslast month which found most of them did not want political parties to be required to adopt gender quotas in their candidate-selection process.
She called on parties to put such targets in place.
“It’s just the initial opportunity to get on a ticket; to win a winnable seat in a constituency. That’s the hard part. Once they [women] get there they’re flying. It’s Labour Party policy and I think that it’s important that it’s Labour Party policy to introduce quotas for selection conventions.”
Ms O’Donnell said she had joined a small party and “didn’t have to murder a man to get a nomination”.
Asked about the recent decisions of three women TDs, Olwyn Enright of Fine Gael and Labour’s Mary Upton and Liz McManus, to stand down at the next election, she said they were all doing so for their own reasons.
“I’m sad because it diminishes the potential pot of candidates for the next election in terms of female representation.”
She said lack of confidence was also a big factor. Political parties should have mentoring programmes for young women to increase their confidence and help them raise money.
She described the political system as “so staid and so unyielding”, adding: “I’d love to see new people entering politics and taking up positions of authority in Government.”
