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What barriers do women face in the Irish political system?

What barriers do women face in the Irish political system?. Claire McGing IRCHSS Scholar NUI 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

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What barriers do women face in the Irish political system?

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  1. What barriers do women face in the Irish political system? Claire McGing IRCHSS Scholar NUI Maynooth National Women’s Council of Ireland/Longford Women’s Link Members meeting: Women and Politics

  2. 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%)

  3. 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

  4. Women candidates in 2011

  5. 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

  6. Why so few? The 5 ‘C’s’ • Childcare • Culture • Confidence • Cash • Candidate selection • Interaction between ‘supply’ (women) and ‘demand’ (the parties) issues

  7. 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

  8. Childcare Source: Women and Men 2010, CSO (2011)

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Constituency size

  14. % Female candidates by constituency size, 2007

  15. % Successful candidates by gender and constituency size, 2007

  16. % Female candidates by constituency size, 2011

  17. 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

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