Gemma Hussey tells her story in ‘Madam Politician’
FORMER TD and Minister Gemma Hussey once had to endure Charlie Haughey snapping her bra strap, she told Martina Fitzgerald for the book ‘Madam Politician – The Women at the Table of Irish Political Power’.
The book tells the stories and experiences of all female cabinet ministers, and two presidents, in Ireland.
The incident occurred during a Dáil debate on rape, she having sponsored the Private Members Bill.
‘I got a shock and leapt to my feet,’ she says in the book. ‘I was dumbfounded. I was just amazed.’
The Bray woman served variously as Minister for Social Welfare, Minister for Labour, Minister for Education, leader of Seanad Éireann and leader of Fine Gael in the Seanad.
Minister for Health Simon Harris attended the book launch last week.
‘It was really lovely to see Gemma again, a person who represented our constituency with such dedication and had the honour of serving as a cabinet minister,’ he said.
Just 19 female politicians have sat at the cabinet table in Ireland in almost 100 years.
Along with the two former female presidents, all the living members of this exclusive club were interviewed for this book, bringing together their voices to reveal the challenges and triumphs of getting to the top table or Irish political life.
From the battles to have their voices heard, to balancing a career with family life, dealing with various levels of sexism and an enduring focus on appearance, their personal stories are dramatic, colourful and inspiring.