National Women’s Council: General Election is historic opportunity to improve women’s representation

Published: Friday, November 15, 2024

Gender Quota leads to record number of women running in General Election 2024

Ahead of the close of nominations for the General Election tomorrow (16th November), the National Women’s Council (NWC) today (15th November) welcomed the record number of women running in the General Election as an historic opportunity to improve women’s political representation in Dail Eireann. Ireland currently only ranks 104th globally in terms of female parliamentary representation.   

As of 13 November, 234 women have confirmed they will be contesting the General Election. This is a 44% increase compared to the 2020 General Election. All political parties are expected to meet the gender quota of 40%.

Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation with NWC said,

“The record number of women running in this General Election shows that the gender quota is working, ensuring more women are on the ballot. This gives voters more choice. This election is a historic opportunity to change women’s abysmal representation of just 23% of elected TDs and ensure women can equally influence policies and legislation that will impact their lives.”

Historically, the high rate of incumbency in Irish politics has created barriers for new voices, particularly for women, seeking to enter the Dáil. However, this election offers a rare opportunity to break the mould and reshape our national politics to better reflect the diversity of our society. With 35 TDs stepping down and an increase in seats from 60 to 74, voters have an unprecedented chance to build a more balanced Dáil. For voters this is a moment to carefully consider the new candidates and elect women and other feminist candidates who will advocate for the issues that matter to them.

Liliana Fernandez, Leadership Officer with NWC said,

“Despite the historic opportunity that this election represents, women continue to face significant barriers when seeking political office. Candidate selection and party culture, care responsibilities and increasingly online abuse and violence are just some of the well documented challenges they must deal with and overcome. These barriers are compounded for women on low incomes, lone parents, rural women, Traveller women, migrant and disabled women.  

The gender quota in itself will not be enough to achieve the gender parity and gender-balanced Cabinet that we need, but it goes a long way in leveling the playing field. Political parties must work beyond election cycles to recruit and support women candidates, ensuring they are placed in winnable seats, and not just to meet their quotas.”

She continued,

“NWC is also advocating for the use of only-women co-option lists when vacancies of local authority seats arise after the election results. Co-option offers a valuable opportunity to increase women’s and minority representation as sitting councillors running for the Dáil leave vacant positions.”

NWC has developed a Feminist Manifesto for the General Election 2024 outlining ten key asks for candidates.  NWC is inviting voters to check their candidates’ stance on these issues before voting on the 29th November 2024.

https://www.nwci.ie/images/uploads/Final_GE_Manifesto_2024.pdf

 

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For more information, please contact Sinead Nolan, Communications and Social Media Coordinator, National Women’s Council, sineadn@nwci.ie

 

About NWC 

The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have almost 200 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters. 

This year we celebrate 50 years since our foundation with a special calendar of events and campaigns. 

The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality, and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work. 

We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie