Views from the Periphery: Changing the Political Agenda for Women in the Republic of Ireland and in Scotland

The representation of women as Members of Parliament in the Republic of Ireland and in Scotland is low by European standards. It is argued that two separate political events – the election of Mary Robinson as Ireland's first woman president and pressures for constitutional change in Scotland – could provide the opportunity to change the political agenda for women in these two countries. We record the response of the political parties to the demands for greater representation of women through ‘promotional', ‘active intervention’ and ‘status quo’ strategies.