Dr. Fiona Buckley:

It would be a sensible move to provide support for employees to run for office, as well for their employers to allow them to do so. That would allow for greater diversity among those running for office. We have seen in recent elections that there is a social base in our voting patterns now. We are seeing an increasing movement towards people who identify as left of centre whereas in the past, Ireland would traditionally have been seen as country where voting patters were right of centre. One could ask whether there are many working-class people represented in our political institutions. Perhaps what Senator Higgins suggests could go some way towards diversifying the pool of potential candidates that are coming forward. There is a need for more people from a working-class background to come forward and contest elections.