Boys Club on Navan Municipal Council 'Not Good Enough'

Boys Club on Navan Municipal Council 'Not Good Enough' - Cllr Emer Tóibín

Voting pacts on Navan Municipal Councils that exclude women are not good enough in 2024.

That’s according to Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín who says that despite all the talk about ‘equality and diversity’ being proffered by larger parties across the spectrum, it appears that for some, maintaining the ‘status quo’ trumps all this.

“I must say I’m very disappointed that it appears that the ‘boys club’ is still alive and kicking in Navan Municipal Council”

“There are 4 men of differing political persuasions, Fianna Fail, Sinn Féin and 2 Independents keeping keeping 3 elected women on the council out of key positions”.

“One of the other female Councillors came to me before the count was completed and asked if we could work together, a scenario I was open to. Despite our efforts to get one of the men to join up with us, he declined and all four of the men are now in a voting pact, which can only lead one to assume that the boys are banding together against the girls, and we are out ‘in the cold’ so to speak”.

“Look, I’m a strong democratic politician and I know this is how things go sometimes but just because they have always been done that way, doesn’t mean they should continue to be conducted in this manner or indeed that it is right”.

“What really irks me is that there was no discussion around this, the four male politicians did not broker any discussion with us female councillors and that is regrettable”.

“I think any pacts or arrangements should reflect the number of votes received by candidates. I was one of the two candidates that actually reached the quota on the first count and yet the majority of the "Boys Club Pact" got elected on the 12th and 13th count. For all the talk of Gender Equality from Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, they are certainly not practicing it on Navan Municipal Council".

“I’m not a yes woman, I interrogate issues and I am going to interrogate this ‘status quo’ arrangement”.

ENDS

For further information contact Cllr Emer Tóibín 087 6778682

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.