SCECLB324 Sinnead

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio | Reform Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol)| Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

Ymateb gan Sinnead | Evidence from Sinnead

What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population)?

True and equitable gender representative will help contribute to a more balanced output by the legislature

What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?

Sanctions can be effective and are needed if those responsible for enforcing the Bill cannot guarantee compliance. This cannot be a tickbox exercise and is well overdue.

Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

Gender is a narrow measure of equality in a country that is built on colonialism yet goes to the ends of the earth to deny it's systemic racism. I fear that there were tokenistic advances made since 2020 and that race is no longer the subject of the day. I personally do not feel represented by someone because they are a woman as the majority of the time they are white and have a very different life experience to me. I also think the country treats people with disabilities appallingly and I think representation for those differently abled isn't going to necessarily increase because we have more women represented. Hope to be proven wrong.

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill?

sorry - ran out of time. Best of luck and hope to learn more!