Unsure how you felt, but the suspense over the weekend was unbearable for us. Monday seemed to last an eternity, with intense curiosity about who would be the successor of RTÉ’s chairmanship. The anticipation brought us back to that edgy moment when the entire country anxiously waited to find out who would follow in the footsteps of the Riverdance lady. The opportunity eventually landed to the woman from the film studio/TG4.
However, it seemed people soon lost track of her, a fact highlighted when Ryan Tubridy’s salary became the talk of the town. Even then, Siún Ní Raghallaigh remained an under-the-radar figure during the never-ending RTÉ saga that ensued. Her position took a dramatic shift when the Media Minister, Catherine Martin, created a wave by ousting Ní Raghallaigh just 13 months after she had landed the position.
An increasing amount of speculation grew around who would be generous/bold/crazy enough to step up and fill the void in the role. What apathy! The suspense finally ceased with the dawn of Tuesday morning. Terence O’Rourke, renowned bean-counter and incumbent chair of the ESB, is all set to fill Siún’s vacancy, a role which has seen immense pressure in recent times. A noted feature is his well-kempt, flowing hair with a boardroom tailored look.
The day he assumed his new position, questions were once again raised in the Dáil about the contentious exit of the previous chair and the part Martin played in the incident. This sprouted post Ní Raghallaigh’s Monday remarks bringing her perspective to the fore and creating suspicion on the Minister’s version of the event.
While Catherine Martin had issued a comprehensive statement in the parliament on the matter earlier, opposition TDs considered this new development worthy of summoning her to the parliament for further direct questioning.
She sat there, with arms assertively crossed, emotionlessly gazing forward while Sinn Féin whip Padraic MacLochlainn, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Catherine Murphy from the Social Democrats, Richard Boyd-Barrett from People Before Profit, and Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independents implored the Taoiseach to make this a reality.
However, Leo Varadkar in a convoluted manner dismissed the request. So, that settles it.
The main Dáil event ensued taking up the major part of the afternoon.
Is it that time of the year once again?
With determination, Roderic stood up and commenced his initial address. The scale of his responsibility often gives the impression of him covering every governmental duty. It becomes a question of how he manages to accomplish so much.
There was no other option for O’Gorman, given that a minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth always has a plate full of tasks. The multitasking O’Gorman undoubtedly got the empathy from the group of women who stepped into the room to listen to him (Though they were primarily there as they were next to deliver their speeches).
Besides him, there was not another man present. This was due to the annual formal but underrated event where statements for International Women’s Day are traditionally read.
The Deputy Speaker gave the commencement sign and revealed the session’s length: “Two hours and 27 minutes,” Catherine Connolly announced to an empty room. We wish him the best.
Roderic, holding his script, bravely initiated the government’s plea for positive votes in the upcoming Friday’s referendums, which coincidentally falls on International Women’s Day. He was speaking to an entirely empty assembly.
“I want to start my statement today by welcoming everyone in the room and wishing all, especially my female colleagues, a Happy International Women’s Day,” he expressed, addressing vacant brown leather seats across him.
At least they remained silent.
“International Women’s Day is an important day, an echo reminding us of my department’s commitment to advocating equality, building an inclusive community where everyone enjoy their rights and attains their maximum potential. Our primary target, in particular, is the upliftment of women and girls, both in local and international policies, aiming to establish a sustainable, fair society,” he carried on, lifting his sight and speaking to an empty wall.
Suddenly, Rose Conway-Walsh rushed into the room and took her seat in the Sinn Féin front-row. She was closely followed by the Labour leader, Ivana Bacik. At one point, Roderic found himself addressing an all-female gathering of six. Ivana sat alone while Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader flourished with her supporting group of women.
First to vocalise her thoughts was Mary Lou, and she split her platform with Rose, Imelda Munster, and Louise O’Reilly, later joined by Sorcha Clarke. They paved the way for the Labour Party’s figurehead, whose backing from the absent Labour boys wasn’t as strong.
Much like him, Holly Cairns, the Social Democrats chief, wasn’t able to draw more support. It seemed like her perspective on this yearly ritual discouraged her fellow TDs – three females and two males – from participating in the session. “It’s like we’re stuck in a loop, rehashing and repurposing last year’s statements because nothing has changed. And so, history repeats itself,” she initiated. Despite International Women’s Day being an occasion for joy, “it also brings out frustration, as we seem to be stuck discussing the same issues every year.”
During the proclamation of views, rarely did the number of attendees surpass half a dozen. Each speaker shared their thoughts then departed.
Ministers were conspicuously absent from the conversation with the exception of Roderic, who found himself standing alone. Later, two government backbenchers from the Fine Gael’s Emer Higgins and Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness made contributions.
The Sinn Féin party consistently supplied speakers, the majority being females. The People Before Profit party and numerous other speakers recalled the plight of women in Gaza, while Rural Independents explained the reason behind their search for a ‘No’ vote in the referendums. A handful of independents, such as Catherine Connolly and Violet-Anne Wynne, also participated.
Verona Murphy ended her discourse on the insufficient mental health support for families and teenagers on an emotional note, recounting a story of a young girl from her Wexford constituency.
Although the Opposition put forth a commendable effort, the debate started to flounder, wrapping up thirty minutes before the allotted timeframe concluded.
The Minister concluded his remarks with a sense of déjà vu in the almost empty Dáil. Except for a few Sinn Féin TDs, no other members of the house stayed to listen. The few individuals present were there for the next agenda item – a SF motion propounding the support for caretakers and people with disabilities.
This discussion was overseen by the ever-attendant Roderic who, shortly after Anne Rabbitte—the Minister of State in his department—joined him, made his exit.
Reassuring perhaps for the ladies – if they were so inclined to be concerned – that this discussion didn’t fare any better in terms of attendance than the previous announcements on International Women’s Day. Then again, the main topic was caregivers (who are largely women) and those living with disabilities (a significant portion of whom are women).
Thankfully this time, there were less cringeworthy gestures from TDs expressing gratitude to the females in their lives for their contributions in moulding them into who they’ve become today and keeping their workplaces running efficiently. Not to mention, there were no embarrassing public acknowledgements made to the mothers and wives.
The two-hour long speeches on Tuesday afternoon won’t contribute in the slightest to improving the lives of women, whether locally or elsewhere. Everyone in Dáil Éireann agreed on this.
However, the task has been marked as completed. Another yearly duty accomplished.
– Listen to our Inside Politics Podcast for the most recent interpretations and discussions
– Sign up for notifications to get the finest news, interpretations and remarks delivered straight to your mobile.
– Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and keep yourself updated