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The 50:50 Group, today 2 February, welcomed the introduction of the Gender Quotas Bill in the Seanad earlier today.
A group of 50:50 Group members, of all generations and from across Ireland gathered in the public gallery to witness history in the making as the legislation which proposes to introduce a 30 per cent gender quota for the candidates of political parties at general elections was debated.
Parties that fail to meet the quota of women candidates will face a 50 per cent reduction in their State funding.

Speaking outside the Seanad at the introduction of the legislation, National Chair of the 50:50 Group, Edel Clancy said

“This is a truly historic day for Ireland as we take this important step towards gender equality in political life.
We in the 50:50 Group welcome this move by Government to join best international practice in correcting Ireland’s shamefully skewed record on gender balance in parliament.

We want women and men equally involved in the whole process of governing our society so we are pleased at what has been started, but this is really just the beginning.”

The 50:50 Group was set up to campaign for 50:50 representation in the Dáil by 2020.  With just over 15% of all Dáil seats held by women, Ireland lags shamefully behind both the global (19.5%) and the EU average (24%).   

The 50:50 Group has called on the Government to ensure that the quota legislation will also be applied to local elections in order to achieve real political reform, as the local councils are often the training grounds for national politicians.