The Irish Constitution and Gender Politics: Developments in the Law on Abortion

Bacik, Ivana

doi:10.4324/9781315772127-5

Cited by 2 publications

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“…In addition, it is also likely to be accompanied by intra-party and intra-coalition conflicts. With a status quo that is regarded as the most restrictive one in western democracies (Bacik, 2013), Ireland has seen such conflict repeatedly following attempts to alter abortion legislation. In fact, the referenda on the issue have converted abortion to an on-going contestation, which is characterised by the strong involvement of non-partisan ad hoc campaign groups (Gallagher, 2011: 541), and a non-alignment of partisan competition from the electorate's perspective (Marsh et al, 2008: 50).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Convictions and Signals in Parliamentary Speeches: Dáil Éireann Debates on Abortion in 2001 and 2013

Baumann

Debus

Müller

2015

Irish Political Studies

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While party unity in legislative voting is generally high in parliamentary democracies, debates provide MPs with the opportunity to express political views even if they deviate from the party line. Using the extensive parliamentary debates on the reform of the Irish abortion legislation in 2001 and 2013, we assess whether Teachtaí Dála (TD) send signals to their constituents. In doing so, we take into account literature on the individual preference formation of political actors as well as institutional accounts that stress vote-seeking resulting from the electoral system. We also argue that personal characteristics like gender and family status should affect the positions of TDs on the abortion issue. In addition, we argue that the preferences of the constituents should particularly be taken into account by those TDs who only narrowly won a seat in the Dáil. Our analysis, which is based on a content analysis of all speeches held during the abortion reform debates in the Dáil in 2001 and 2013, provides support for our expectations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Convictions and Signals in Parliamentary Speeches: Dáil Éireann Debates on Abortion in 2001 and 2013

Baumann

Debus

Müller

2015

Irish Political Studies

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Gender Equality Politics

Galligan

2021

The Oxford Handbook of Irish Politics

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This chapter examines the gender contract between women, society, and the state to identify continuities and changes in gender equality in Irish society since the 1970s. It examines attitudes to women in the home and the controversial public policy debates on abortion to illustrate shifts and stasis in this relationship. The chapter explores the slow evolution of gender equality as an institutional policy concern, supported by successive government commissions and given impetus by the feminist movement. These initiatives culminated in national gender equality plans linked to international commitments, along with targeted plans for specific areas such as violence against women, and women’s participation in political and public life. The chapter concludes that while strides towards gender equality have been made in social, economic, and political life over fifty years, there remain deep-seated attitudes resistant to women’s autonomy and equal citizenship. The gender contract continues to be a work in progress.

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The Irish Constitution and Gender Politics: Developments in the Law on Abortion

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Convictions and Signals in Parliamentary Speeches: Dáil Éireann Debates on Abortion in 2001 and 2013

Convictions and Signals in Parliamentary Speeches: Dáil Éireann Debates on Abortion in 2001 and 2013

Gender Equality Politics

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