Press Release: Local Election Gender Quotas are necessary but not sufficient to achieve fair representation of women in politics.  

Date: 24th September, 2024

Women for Election as part of the Gender Quota Alliance today, Tuesday 24th September, are calling for gender quotas for the next local elections.

Katie Deegan, from Women for Election commenting at the launch said “Gender balance in local government isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of better decision-making. Democracy functions better when it represents everyone it serves and when there is a balance of men and women involved.” 

“The stagnation in the number of women Councillors elected in the recent local elections, at just 26% – making Ireland 22nd out of the EU 27 Countries – means that new radical measures are needed so that we don’t have to wait another three decades for even 40% women in local government. Our democracy is neither healthy nor sustainable if we exclude the voices and experiences of half of the population.” 

“The introduction of gender quotas at the local level is a critical step in ensuring that the many talented, capable women in our businesses, communities, farms and workplaces have a fair chance to be at the centre of the decision making that affects all our lives.” 

Political parties should be supported in building their capacity to reach out to and involve more women and more women from diverse backgrounds in all aspects of political life. That support should be tied to outcomes. But alongside gender quotas Women for Election call on political parties to introduce women-only selection shortlists and gender balanced co-options into any vacances,

“It is clear from the Local Elections that the pace of change is painfully slow. It is unacceptable to tell young women today that they’ll have to wait another generation to see equal representation in our local and national government. We need these urgent, radical reforms now, not later. We cannot afford to be patient on this issue any longer, concluded Deegan.

Alliance for Gender Quotas at Local Level Position Paper.

Event Details:
Launch of the Gender Quotas Alliance
Tuesday, 24th September, 11am
AV Room, Dáil Éireann (Note: Media coverage welcome beforehand photo call outside LH gates at 10:30am)

For more information on the Gender Quotas Alliance and Women for Election’s work, please contact Katie Deegan at 0851391247.
ENDS