Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We could incentivise them with additional funding, yes. Something along those lines was done before, either by the Minster of State, Deputy Peter Burke, or the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, when there was a kind of top-up. Additional funding to reward parties that have gender-balanced tickets might be a good way to do it. The reason I like it as an idea is the stream of councillors coming through that we need. I know my party is doing well at finding female candidates in the greater Dublin area and the urban areas but in the rural areas we are finding it difficult. That is a reflection on us as much as anything but it is a real struggle and any incentive or accelerator would be a positive thing.