Ms Aimee Kane:

As Mr. Sheehan outlined, there are still many barriers in place for women. A wide range of reports have made recommendations for family-friendly local government, such as A Toolkit for Local Authorities on Supporting Family-Friendly Local Government: Enabling and Supporting Women, Parents, and Carers in Local Government from the National Women's Council of Ireland. These recommendations include efficient and effective meetings, induction, training and development, citizen engagement and other measures, including supporting local and regional women's caucuses.

Another key issue would be safety, which I am sure members have all touched on. Democracy thrives on political debate and discourse and the exchange of diverse political views, but there is a point where disagreement crosses a line to behaviours that are not acceptable and should not be tolerated. The report of the task force on safe participation in public life contains some clear tangible recommendations. We welcome these recommendations, but they will need robust implementation resourcing and strengthening, as required in the new power of the Electoral Commission, Coimisiún na Meán and An Garda Síochána. We have seen an increase in abuse and harassment in the recent local elections, particularly targeted at women and minorities. We endorse the recommendations of the task force. The report also acknowledged abuse becoming increasingly normalised, particularly online, driven by misogyny, sexism, racism and intolerance.

The last thing to touch on would be candidates' addresses. Prospective women candidates have raised the issue of their home addresses being on the ballot paper. There should be a legislative change to allow for candidates to include as much of their home address as they consider safe to be on the ballot paper in the future.