'Trailblazer' Hussey forged a path into Dáil in 1970s

Gemma Hussey forged a path into Dáil Éireann in the 1970s and 1980s, a period when there were few women represented in politics at a national level.

Ms Hussey was a passionate advocate of women becoming more visible and active in all spheres of public life and was considered a trailblazer for Irish female politicians who followed in her footsteps.

Ms Hussey's career began in the 1970s when she chaired the Women's Political Association, travelling around the country as the fledgling women's movement began to take shape.

Her mission was to get more women participating and running for the Dáil and to achieve greater gender balance amongst TDs, an objective that is still as relevant today as it was fifty years ago.

Ms Hussey led by example. She served as a Senator from 1977 to 1982, initially sitting as an independent before joining Fine Gael in 1980.

She became the party’s first spokesperson on Women’s Affairs and government Leader in the Seanad between 1981 and 1982.

Read more: Tributes paid as 'pioneering' Gemma Hussey dies aged 86

Ms Hussey was first elected to Dáil Éireann in February 1982 for the Wicklow Constituency and was appointed as the opposition spokesperson on Broadcasting, Arts and Culture.

She recalled in an interview with the Irish Times in 2016, how out on the campaign trail in 1981, one woman told her, "You should be at home and not be taking a job from a man,"

"I just said to her, 'Look, I will do my best. It's all I can do. I'm not taking a job from anybody.'"

Later that year, she became Ireland’s first female Minister for Education under the Fine Gael-Labour coalition Government, which was formed following another election held in November 1982.

Ms Hussey held the education portfolio between 1982 and 1986, conspicuous in cabinet photographs as the sole female minister, as men completely dominated positions of power.

At a time when Ireland was suffering economically, she faced challenges in maintaining the education budget and keeping the teacher unions and parents happy. As Minister, she introduced aural and oral exams and set up the National Parents Council as well as making changes to the post-primary curriculum.

'I was the first woman who had a senior cabinet position to come up through the women’s movement. I began in women’s politics,'' Ms Hussey remarked in a 1984 interview with Anne Harris for a piece called ‘Women Power in the Dáil’.

After a cabinet reshuffle she briefly served as Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Labour before retiring from politics in June 1989.

She was swiftly appointed by President, Dr Patrick Hillary, to the Council of State.

After leaving Dáil Éireann, Gemma Hussey continued to advocate for greater representation of women in politics.

In 1990 she co-founded the European Women’s Federation, organising workshops to teach women about political life and public speaking. Ms Hussey also founded the Worldwide International Women’s Forum, and became its first president.

Despite all her achievements in Irish politics, Ms Hussey's proudest work was campaigning on womens issues and her determination to achieve equality between the sexes throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Taoiseach Jack Lynch established a commission in 1973 to examine and report on the status of women in Irish society.

The report revealed the challenges Irish women faced trying to gain equal terms and conditions with men in the political, social, cultural and economic sectors of the country.

It was a polarising time as womens liberation groups were also challenging norms on women's sexuality, rape and reproductive rights.

Following its publication, Ms Hussey appeared on RTÉ imploring Irish women to stand up against discrimination.

''It does us no favours at all as women, that we have completely opted out of government in this country," Ms Hussey said in an interview with broadcaster Olivia O'Leary on RTÉ in 1973.

''Women have the duty, not only the right to join political parties and make their voices heard, where it really matters in politics. If the majority of the population, which we are [females] takes such as passive part in democracy how can the country be run as it should?'' Ms Hussey said.

It was an ethos she carried into government and throughout her political career.

Ms Hussey was a member of the Working Party on Women in Broadcasting and presented a submission in 1981 to the RTÉ Authority and senior management on the stereotyping of women in the media, sexism and gender imbalance in Irish broadcasting.

She served as a Director on the board of the Abbey Theatre until 1978.

Gemma Hussey was a strong supporter of legislating for divorce in Ireland and campaigned in favour of a yes vote in the 1986 referendum, which was defeated.

Looking back on her career in 2018, Ms Hussey recalled an infamous incident involving the former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

She remembered sitting in the Dáil chamber when she felt somebody ''tweaking'' her bra strap from behind, gesturing her to sit down.

''I thought I had been bitten by something strange'' she told Ray D'arcy.

''I leapt to my feet and it was the Taoiseach behind me. It was a shock to put it mildly. I didn't find it funny. I didn't find it frightening either. I wasn't a wilting violet then and I'm not now. I just thought has the man lost his reason?'' she added.

Born in November 1938 in Bray, Co Wicklow, she attended University College Dublin and graduated with an Honours degree in Economics and Political Science. She passed away today, aged 86.

Ms Hussey founded and directed what became the largest school for foreign students in Ireland. There she met Dermot (Derry) Hussey whom she married in 1976. They had three children, Rachel, Ruth and Andrew.