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In Seanad Eireann today
Senator Jillian van Turnhout, leader of the Independent Group of Senators, welcomed Minister Phil Hogan’s introduction of a Bill to introduce gender quotas at Irish General Elections candidate selection.

She commended the Bill for beginning to redress historical under-representation of women in Irish political life.

“Women account for half the Irish population, yet we are vastly under-represented in the policy & decision-making processes that shape all of our futures.”

She said the Bill means each political party will be compelled to field General Election candidates who are at least 30% female (rising to 40%).

Parties which fail to reach these targets will lose half their State funding.

Only 9.3% of 1,620 Seanad seats filled (1922 – 2009) have been held by women:  she highlighted how poor Ireland’s record is for female representation:
“We are currently ranked 22nd out of 27 EU member states, 79th in international rankings.”

Under-representation of women is “historic & persistent“:
“our Dáil has never been less than 85% male.”
This isn’t the result of women’s lack of interest in politics, said Senator van Turnhout.

Drawing on her widepersonal experience of volunteer & civil society organisations, she praised
“the passion & commitment of so many women & the vital role they play in shaping Ireland for the better.”

She asked Phil Hogan whether politicians were missing an opportunity by failing to apply the legislation to Local and European elections?

She said she echoed the view of The 50:50 Group that for quota legislation to be meaningful & effective, it must to be extended to Local Elections.

She also said improvement in female representation should not stop with gender quotas. She called for more encouragement to be given to women to run for election.  She praised the initiative of Women For Election to “inspire, equip, & inform” women to run for political office.

She shared her speaking time equally with Senator Fiach Mac Conghail.  He also spoke strongly in support of the Bill.