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 Women made up 13.8% of 30th Dáil (23 seats out of 166) Placed Ireland 84 th globally, alongside Cameroon (IPU, 2011) Local government (16%), Seanad (22%) and EU (25%)

30 th 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

PartyFemale candidates% Female% Change (+/-) Fianna Fáil1114.7%+ 1.6% Fine Gael1615.4%- 1.1% Labour1826.5%+ 4.5% Green Party818.6%- 6.4% Sinn Féin819.5%- 4.9% Ind/Other2510.6%- 2.2% Total8615.2%- 2.2% Women candidates in 2011

Fewer women running than between 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

N=With FF female candidate/s With FG female candidate/s N=With FF female candidate/s With FG female candidate/s 3-seat186 (33.3%)2 (11.1%) 173 (17.6%) 4-seat133 (23.0%)5 (38.4%) 154 (26.7%)5 (33.3%) 5-seat125 (41.6%)8 (66.6%) 114 (36.4%)7 (63.6%) Total4314 (32.5%) 15 (34.8%) 4311 (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