Irish GC women: Write to your TDs

[Mermoose]

We have to try to make Irish politicians engage with the conflicts between women's rights and Self ID.
I came on here to post that and saw this thread at the top of the page www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3940451-WRITE-TO-YOUR-MP
There are some really good ideas in that thread for content to put in your letter.

You can find your local TDs and MEPs here: www.whoismytd.com/

Ages ago I started collecting references & resources for letters but it turned into a bit of a neverending story. As a number of people have said in the MPs thread, it is best to keep letters short. But for people who do want to look at ways in which Self ID creates problems, here's the thread I started at the time:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3764057-I-want-to-make-sure-that-Irish-politicians-cant-deny-their-part-in-Self-ID

Thank you Mermoose I really must do this. I never seem to have any time! I've written to my TDs before on climate issues (although it was made very easy for me with a prewritten email from the likes of friends of the earth) but a lot of them actually responded which I was surprised by.

I was going to give a sample letter but I think it's better if they're all individual?
Yeah I think a letter is actually a big deal, people don't usually bother sending them so they make an impression.

Thanks Mermoose.
Now is probably a good time too with the new govt.

Yes you're probably right, I'm sure will make more of an impact if they are individual.

Thanks Mermoose. I started thinking about doing it ages ago but never got to actually doing it. I live in Wokistan though so it will be talking to a brick wall...

Please PM me for a UK template you can adapt if useful.

Great idea. I saw the Greens proposal today and they wish to make self id for 16 and 17 year olds

Oh no greenjumpers 😣

Thank you so much for this, and for the link to the previous thread!

I think noting and thanking TDs for their responses to same-sex marriage & Repeal (if on the right side) is important here. It's very easy for it to seem (to outsiders) like questioning this stuff is regressive & conservative (not least because the - ugh - Iona Institute are sceptical of it) but for most GC feminists it seems to be (do correct me if wrong, I'm still relatively new here!) about recognising women still need protection in the world we live in. That these protections are threatened by certain trans rights demands, and that (while sceptical about current trans ideology) we're not trying to screw over anyone, we just want to make sure women are OK.

An Irish civil servant friend of mine told me recently that my fears were unfounded because they'd had "no problems with GRA" in Ireland. I did point out that I was aware of some problems (and told him about the prison thing) and pointed out why it was so difficult for opposition to be heard in Ireland but he's still not convinced. I think he's assuming that I'm blowing it up because it suits my Scottish/UK agenda. I'll be watching your threads and chats closely Irish pals, because I need to handle his dismissal but also because I support you big time ;)

Oh and yes I did also point out that Irish system is somewhat different to proposals here. Not that this made any difference to the women spending jail time with male sex offenders right enough.