New Alliance calls for 40% Gender Quotas in Local Elections

Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2024

A new civil society alliance, which launched today (24th September 2024), is demanding a 40%  gender quota for local election candidates as a key measure to address gender inequality in the next programme for government. 

The group is dedicated to addressing the imbalance of representation of women at all levels of politics and wants to keep this critical issue front and center as the General Election approaches. 

Led by the National Women’s Council (NWC), the Alliance brings together leading academics, and advocates for Traveller, migrant, and disabled women, all united in their call for fairer political representation. 

Rachel Coyle, Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation at NWC, said:

“The numbers of women in politics matter. At local level they tell a stark story of gender inequality. Women make up just 26% of local authority members, with only 247 out of 949 councillors being women. Only nine out of 31 local authorities have reached the critical 30% threshold for female representation. Women are reshaping politics and driving vital issues—like gender-based violence and reproductive health—onto the agenda, but progress is painfully slow.

The poor results for women in June’s local elections are a wake-up call and we cannot wait another local election cycle for political parties to take this seriously. Women’s political representation needs to remain on the political agenda, now, when we can do something about it. Gender quotas are no longer just an option, they are a necessity. Local politics play a crucial role in preparing candidates for general elections. If women aren't on the ballot locally, they simply won't appear nationally."

Gender quotas enjoy strong public backing. In 2020, the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality called on the government to introduce quotas for the 2024 local elections, with an overwhelming 87.6% of citizens in support. There is a growing appetite for more diversity and representation on the ballot. 

Liliana Fernandez, Leadership Officer with NWC, said:

“Now is the time for urgent action to increase the number of women in politics at local level. This means equal numbers of women and men across the country and improved diversity through representation of women from different backgrounds: disabled women, minority ethnic women including Traveller and Roma women, and women from marginalised identities and communities. Quotas are one proven mechanism that can bring about urgently needed action to address the ongoing underrepresentation of women in local government.”

The new alliance is calling for: the implementation of statutory gender quotas of 40% for local elections; commitment to the introduction of mechanisms to ensure the adequate representation of minority groups including (but not limited to) Traveller women, women from migrant backgrounds, disabled women and women from the LGBTQIA+ community; and increased funding for political parties, councils, and NGOs, tied to outcomes, to support women's inclusion. For quotas to be effective, proper resourcing for engagement, capacity building, and training will be needed. 

The membership of the Alliance is 50/50 Group, 50/50NI, Dr Pauline Cullen & Shane Gough (NUI Maynooth), Dr Fiona Buckley (UCC), Women for Election, Dr Michelle Maher of See Her Elected, Independent Living Movement Ireland, Dr Sandra McAvoy, Dr Claire McGing, National Traveller Women’s Forum, See Her Elected, AkiDwA, Women’s Collective Ireland – Limerick. 

Ends/

Notes: 

Find here the Alliance’s position paper  (embargoed, 00:01 am, 24 September 2024)

For more information, please contact Sinéad Nolan, NWC Communications and Social Media Coordinator or Silke Paasche silkep@nwci.ie

What: Launch of Gender Quotas Alliance

When: Tuesday 24 September, 11am

Where: AV room, Dáil Éireann (note media are not allowed into the event but we welcome coverage beforehand)

 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 over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters.

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