FF commits to making 30% of its local election candidates women

Published: Thursday, December 15, 2011

FIANNA FÁIL has committed itself to ensuring women account for 30 per cent of its local election candidates in 2014, following the publication of a Government Bill to introduce gender quotas in national polls.

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan yesterday published the Electoral Amendment Political Funding Bill 2011, which will halve State funding to parties unless 30 per cent of their candidates at the next general election are women. The target will rise to 40 per cent after seven years.

Niall Collins of Fianna Fáil welcomed the proposed legislation but said steps to increase women's representation in politics should be taken sooner.

"Fianna Fáil intends to ensure that 30 per cent of its candidates at the next local elections are female. All parties should do the same," Mr Collins said.

The Bill was widely welcomed by Government representatives, although a small number struck a sceptical tone. Labour TD Joanna Tuffy continues to oppose the measure, while Fine Gael's Heather Humphries said: "I still don't think I should be elected because I'm a woman; I should be elected on my ability to do my job."

Sinn Féin's Sandra McLellan said she was in favour of quotas "as an interim measure", but Clare Daly of the Socialist Party expressed strong opposition.

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