Post on 17-Dec-2015
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
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