7.9.04

Belfast Telegraph

**and THEN we will have an 'Ireland of Equals'

Sinn Fein seeking to replace 'chairman'

06 September 2004

A Sinn Fein MLA has urged Down District Council to replace the gender-specific term 'chairman' in council business.

South Down MLA Caitriona Ruane, who is the party's spokesperson on Equality, Human Rights and Women, has written to the council's chief executive John McGrillen about the issue and her colleagues who sit on the council intend to issue a motion calling for the term to be changed.

Ms Ruane said there was an onus on public bodies to set an example of good practice.

"The term 'chairman' is no more a generic term than the use of the word chairwoman - it is an outdated term of reference that emphasises the role of one gender and should be scrapped."

She wants to see changes made in the use of the term in councils.

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