NEW legislation is needed to ensure there are enough women candidates going for election at local level as Limerick’s record at fielding women is shown to be way behind the national average.
Limerick’s only female TD, Education MInister Jan O’Sullivan said she would like to see new regulations governing the percentage of female candidates put forward in a general election extended to cover quotas in local elections.
Speaking to the LImerick Post in the wake of the publication of figures released by the Women for Election organisation to mark International Women’s Day, the MInister said she was “quite disappointed” to see that Limerick was lagging way behind, in 23rd place in the country when it came to fielding female candidates at local level.
Just 15 per cent of the candidates selected in the last local election in Limerick were women, but most were elected, a demonstration, according to Women for Election, that “where women are selected they will be elected”.
“It is evident to the Women for Election group that the political parties need to look closely at Limerick. We know that there is no shortage of women within party ranks and elsewhere in terms of members and activists to select for the general election. The talent is there but it is up to the parties and others to bring it forward.
“As we approach the next general election, Women for Election has demonstrated that there is a pipeline of talented able women ready to take the next step on their political journey and given the support, training and mentoring their chances of success are significantly heightened.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was ‘Make it Happen’ and Women for Election are excited to be playing our part.”
The MInister said she would like to see a per centage quota for women candidates in a general election extended to local politics, where many careers in public representation are launched.
“I think imposing quotas for which political parties are fined if they are no met, works because it hits the political parties in their pockets. I would like to see this quota system extended to local as well as general elections,” the MInister told the Limerick Post.
But the Education MInister said there are other obstacles to women running for election.
“Research shows that men tend to be more confident about their ability when they stand for election. A lot of women are less confident. They wrongly believe they’re not good enough. There is a need to encourage women to stand”.
Minister O’Sullivan said there are other issues which discourage women from standing, including child care and family responsibilities.
