If you find it too much of an effort to learn about fluoridation (the info is all here: http://www.fluoridealert.org), do remind yourself of the basic truths:

* Tooth decay is caused by sugar, and nothing else.
* Fluoride is a deadly poison; it is not a nutrient of any sort.
* Nobody needs fluoride, ever.

Simon, I have one question for you: Why do you want to force unmeasured amounts of that toxic chemical down the throats of every Irish man, woman and child, whether they want it or not, whether they’re toothless or not, whether they have a healthy diet or not…?

To find the same number of capable men to women you would have to have on average equal numbers. (If you believe gender is equal if you believe one gender is better then another. Well… )So if you do not have equal numbers then if you have say a 50/50 quota then the gender with the lower number gets more reps with lower abilities if you get me. (i.e if you are picking 10 from 20 and 10 from 15. the first time you are getting the top 50% the other time the top 66% so there is 8% better in the first group past over due to quota.) If non-quota then you just get the best.

I understand your point though on breaking the glass ceiling etc. But I just dislike positive discrimination

Simon, I dont think we have the best of the best at present. We get the best of those who go forward accompanied by a civil service. There is only tentative crossover of expertise which is facilitated by systems in other countries. Quota’s are a blunt tool, I dont disagree. The issue is though that being female is of a different category to being dyslexic.

The argument for quotas is that it opens up the fact that female participants are potentially as capable as men and require opportunity. I understand your point about the merits of selection based on those criteria, but for women who find current practices a barrier to public office I think the feeling would be that it is the only way to get a foot on the ladder.

Quotas need to have an end point in mind though. They need to be used to reform practice not as an add-on that gets rid of the issue.

I think that both alternatives have issues on neturality, so we seem to agree. woo hoo!

Hear hear.

Congrats to Simon, Cian and all those who contributed to this site. Best to just ignore the sad trolls.

Hear hear.

Congrats to Simon, Cian and all those who contributed to this site. Best to just ignore the sad trolls.

“Simon, I normally scroll straight past your barely literate contributions but today I read you with glee. I could hardly imagine a more persuasive example of the kind of supporter the present government attracts.”

Shane,

So this government attracts supporters with genuine concerns about the present opposition, who get shouted at and roundly insulted when they air them? A little tip if you actually mature beyond cheap shots and flaming and actually engage in debate, never start by admitting you haven’t done your homework. If you had bothered to actually read some of Simons previous posts you might have noticed that before Simon makes any claims, he actually reads up on what he’s talking about.

The Rest,
At the risk of being labelled a partisan hack myself, Why is it that posters are only accused of being partisan on this site when they are critical of the opposition parties or actually point out some of the successes of the current government?

On the issue of quota’s I have to wonder is that the type of way someone would like to get a job. I mean I do have dyslexia and would hate to think that is the reason I got a job. I would much prefer to know I got the job dues to my abilities not due to some disabilities quota. But also the question is it is the running of the country we are talking about here. Don’t we want the best of the best. Should a statistical quota really be the way we pick people?

On Neutrality funnily enough that is the one question in the list I would have to answer yes to. But I doubt the majority of Irish people would. So it is a question to ask themsleves

Dermot you are joking, right? Could you outline those seats which are likely to lead to an increased Fianna Fail share? And if you are assuming that some seats will go (Donegal NE, Cork NW) you might want to account for that.

I also echo Ian’s sentiments. I don’t agree with Simon most of the time but he is pretty literate. I notice a lack of response to the arguments there Shane, not making any suggestion viz the literate comment.

I think the point about gender before talent is a little bit hard to swallow. I understand your aversion to quotas as a response to the merits of particular people. However there is a valid argument that work practices militate against those females with talent from getting involved. Quotas shoehorn that issue into question and act as a form of reforming practices to open space up for more female participation which will give us those of merit.

Long term quotas are not an option, but as a step on a process of reform I have nothing against them.

I do have an issue with the nebulous concept of Neutrality since this government will be hoping to sign up to EU battle groups. Neither side can cope with out under-defined idea of neutrality and hte awful triple lock system which is its product.