TUV Councillor asks “What genders are they proposing?”
A Sinn Féin proposal to detail gender inequality at Belfast City Council has led to strange and tense exchanges between a TUV councillor and council officials at City Hall.
At the council’s March meeting of its Standards and Business Committee, a motion titled “Gender Budgeting” by Councillor Áine McCabe was sent to the council’s important Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for further discussion.
The motion states: “This council acknowledges the potential benefits of gender budgeting in addressing systemic gender inequalities for all in our society, as well as improving equality for those whom we are providing services for, through thoughtful and deliberative financial planning.”
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The motion proposes the officials perform a “gender data audit” to ensure “maximum impact of data” and to understand what gaps exist relating to the scale of gender inequality at City Hall, with the aim of “achieving better equality outcomes and more targeted resource allocation.”
It adds: “Annual review of progress will determine further steps in auditing and where progress allows for the phased adoption of gender budgeting tools.”
While the debate of motions is not permitted at the Standards and Business Committee, when the item was tabled, there were a series of unusual exchanges between elected representatives and officials.
When the item was raised, TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said: “Just for the purposes of clarity, what genders are they proposing?”
The City Solicitor, Nora Largey, said: “It would be my understanding that it could be confined to male and female. It depends on the gender audit what the outcomes of that would be in terms of any issues in the workforce.”
Councillor McDowell said: “If it is male and female, is that comprehensive, of everyone who works for the council?” The City Solicitor replied: “It would be an audit of all council staff.”
Councillor McDowell returned: “Where do we stand if people are asked what their gender is, and if they are uncomfortable with the question?”
The City Solicitor said: “The detail of the proposal is that we work with the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, and it would be for them to set the terms and references for it.”
Councillor McDowell said: “There is so much presumption in the proposal we don’t have the full detail, and you are adding to the detail based on what you think, rather than what you know is in the proposal.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Ronan McLaughlin raised a “point of order” and said: “This is not the forum to discuss motions.” He added: “It has been referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, and I am sure Councillor McDowell can make himself free on a Friday if he chooses, but this is not the remit of this committee to get into the minutiae of the motion.”
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn, who chairs the Standards and Business Committee, said Councillor McLaughlin was correct, and said proceedings would “move on.”
At this point, DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “I don’t know where it says that in the standing order, but I want you to make it clear, you are denying me my democratic right.” Councillor Flynn replied: “To be fair, your party started this committee, it is your baby, not mine.” Another official confirmed the motion could not be debated at that level, and the committee moved on.
The Standards and Business Committee was created at City Hall in April 2021, pushed through on Sinn Féin and DUP votes, and designed to fast-track, refer, or dismiss motions without ratification from the full council, and without debate. It was described by People Before Profit as an attempt “to shut the voices of smaller parties,” and was looked upon with suspicion by Alliance, the SDLP and the Green Party.
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