The National Women’s Council calls for legislative action to ensure equal representation of men and

Published: Tuesday, August 03, 2004

The National Women's Council of Ireland is once again calling for legislative action to combat the under-representation of women in politics, following the results of a survey carried out by the General Council of County Councils. According to the survey, the number of women on county and city councils continues to be low, with men still accounting for 80% of local representatives.
The survey, which found that, out of 883 city and county councillors; only 153 (or 17.5%) are women. This shows an increase of 23 female representatives on the 1999 elections.

''The results of this survey show that very little has changed. There is now an urgent need for legislative action which would oblige all political parties to introduce quotas, where an equal number of women and men are put forward as candidates for the local and national elections'' stated Orla O'Connor, Head of Policy at the NWCI.

''There has been a persistently low rate of success at local level in Ireland for women entering local politics, and given that this is the usual way for women to enter national politics, it is a worrying situation that is being ignored by government. It is now crucial that political parties begin a radical strategy that promotes female participation in politics at a local level'' she continued.

Women make up 51% of the population, but only 13% of the people elected to the Dail are women. ''If the government is serious about achieving equality for women, there must be equal representation of women in the decision-making process. Without this the views and needs of women will not be adequately represented. If women are not supported to participate in politics, then the interests of women will not be adequately addressed.''

''The NWCI has, for some time now, been calling on the government to introduce mechanisms to ensure balanced representation of the diversity of women and men in decision-making structures and to introduce family friendly working practices in local councils and in the Dail. The results of this survey is further proof that this is not happening'' Ms O'Connor concluded.