Bacik raises ire of Women of Honour after silencing debate on their campaign
THE Women of Honour group has made a complaint to the Labour Party following an extraordinary spat between its leader Ivana Bacik and her Aontú rival Peadar Tóibín.
The row erupted after the Meath West TD attempted to raise the ongoing difficulties the group is experiencing in its quest for justice during a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. The Aontú leader also attempted to question how the alleged sexual assault of a former Fianna Fáil councillor, Deirdre Donnelly, was dealt with by her former party.
The committee, which was set up to consider the recommendations contained in the Report of the Citizens Assembly on gender equality, is chaired by Ms Bacik.
The Labour leader initially refused to allow Mr Tóibín’s line of questioning, which resulted in sharp exchanges at the meeting, which was also attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
‘They went at it hammer and tongs outside’
One witness said: ‘There were even “afters” outside the room when Ivana confronted Tóibín about breaches of decorum and order. They went at it hammer and tongs.’
Mr Tóibín issued a complaint to the Ceann Comhairle about the affair.
The Aontú leader began his address to the committee by stating: ‘On councils there is a difficulty as regards sexual assault and how is this dealt with by the council itself and how it’s dealt with by political parties.’
Mr Tóibín noted one of those attending the committee meeting was Independent councillor Ms Donnelly, who he said ‘has been very strong in highlighting this case and the fact that councils do not provide a duty of care’.
Ms Donnelly has previously expressed dissatisfaction about the response from Fianna
Fáil when she sought help over an alleged sexual assault. Mr Tóibín told the committee, ‘this is a very serious case that affects all councillors’, before Ms Bacik swiftly moved to silence him, warning: ‘This is a matter with
regards to an individual case. It is not within our remit.’
The committee chair said: ‘As chairperson, I have asked colleagues to stick to the remit of the Citizens Assembly and the 45 recommendations. I have to be fair to many people who have come to us with individual scenarios we
haven’t considered.’ Before Mr Tóibín had finished his question, she said: ‘I am going to go to An Taoiseach.’ Mr Tóibín was interrupted by Ms Bacik on 20 occasions over the course of his five-minute contribution. The Aontú leader retorted: ‘All political parties have a responsibility to reform in how
we govern ourselves to ensure councillors are heard if they suffer a sexual assault, that there are proper investigations internally within political parties and perpetrators of that assault are not selected for election by these political parties.’
Mr Tóibin asked Mr Martin to address the concerns of the Women of Honour group, who have been scathing of the State’s response so far to serious allegations of sex
abuse and harassment in the Defence Forces. ‘A year ago, they were promised that there would be a proper investigation and that they would have influence in the terms of reference,’ he said. ‘They are not engaging in the investigation because they have no confidence in it.’ But when the Taoiseach moved to respond to Mr Tóibín’s queries, Ms Bacik shut him down again, citing time pressures.
Mr Tóibín confirmed he was confronted by Ms Bacik after the meeting. He also said he had issued a complaint about the incident to the Ceann Comhairle’s office.
‘I am deeply frustrated that issues of such importance were shut down over petty points of procedure.’ In response to queries from the Irish Mail on Sunday: the Women of Honour group said: ‘We are disappointed and angered at the manner in which the issues were dismissed yet again. We will be seeking a meeting with the Labour Party to discuss the matter.’
‘He was interrupted on 20 occasions’