What barriers do women face in the Irish political system?

Claire McGing IRCHSS ScholarNUI Maynooth

National Women’s Council of Ireland/Longford Women’s Link

Members meeting: Women and Politics

Current picture Dáil has always been at least 86%

male Women made up 13.8% of 30th

Dáil (23 seats out of 166) Placed Ireland 84th globally,

alongside Cameroon (IPU, 2011) Local government (16%), Seanad

(22%) and EU (25%)

30th Dáil

No women TDs in 22 constituencies out of 43 (51%)

70% (16) in Dublin and Leinster

Just under 50% of Irish women represented entirely by men

Distinct lack of representation by rural women

Party Female candidates

% Female % Change (+/-)

Fianna Fáil 11 14.7% + 1.6%

Fine Gael 16 15.4% - 1.1%

Labour 18 26.5% + 4.5%

Green Party 8 18.6% - 6.4%

Sinn Féin 8 19.5% - 4.9%

Ind/Other 25 10.6% - 2.2%

Total 86 15.2% - 2.2%

Women candidates in 2011

Women candidates in 2011 Fewer women running than between 1992-2007

No female FF candidates in 31 constituencies (72%) (+2 on 2007)

FG figure is 28 (65%) (+2) Labour figure is 25 (58%) (-7)

No female party candidates in 9 constituencies (21%) (+2)

No women running in 4 constituencies (9%) (-1) Cork South-West, Kildare South, Limerick,

Roscommon South-Leitrim

Why so few? The 5 ‘C’s’ Childcare Culture Confidence Cash Candidate selection

Interaction between ‘supply’ (women) and ‘demand’ (the parties) issues

Childcare

Biggest source of difficulty for 67% of women TDs surveyed by Galligan et al (2000)

‘Long hours’ culture of Oireachtas Exacerbated for women outside

Leinster No statutory maternity leave Party branch meeting times

Childcare

Source: Women and Men 2010, CSO (2011)

Confidence

Less likely to put themselves forward – often need to be approached

Adversarial nature of politics Less familiar with political world Lack visible role models – ‘a man’s

world’ Role of the media

Culture

Masculine behaviour and norms – uncomfortable for women

At branch level, women often hold supportive rather than leadership positions (Galligan, 2010)

Holding meetings in pubs, at unsuitable times, etc

Cash

Women’s income in 2008 was around 70% of men’s income and 90% when adjusted (CSO, 2011)

Unpaid labour - caring for children Less access to family finances Less access to business/economic

networks

Candidate selection Importance of a strong local profile Incumbents and ‘dynasty’ candidates

often advantaged Gendered ‘recruitment pools’ (e.g.

councillors, branch membership/positions, GAA, IFA, trade unions)

Female involvement in local community initiatives

2007 2011

N= With FF female candidate/s

With FG female candidate/s

N= With FF female candidate/s

With FG female candidate/s

3-seat 18 6 (33.3%) 2 (11.1%) 17 3 (17.6%) 3 (17.6%)

4-seat 13 3 (23.0%) 5 (38.4%) 15 4 (26.7%) 5 (33.3%)

5-seat 12 5 (41.6%) 8 (66.6%) 11 4 (36.4%) 7 (63.6%)

Total 43 14 (32.5%)

15 (34.8%)

43 11 (25.6%)

15 (34.9%)

Constituency size

% Female candidates by constituency size, 2007

% Successful candidates by gender and constituency size, 2007

% Female candidates by constituency size, 2011

What can be done? Mandatory gender quotas, benefitted by

larger constituencies (5+ seats) Recruit beyond traditional spheres ‘Family-friendly’ reforms Encourage women’s leadership at branch

level Mentoring programmes Develop a ‘data bank’ of aspiring women Earmark state funding for women candidates