Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to support the plans in the programme for Government for Dáil reform, particularly the concept of refocusing power on the Dáil itself. The Executive has held the balance of power for far too long, resulting in a lack of transparency and accountability in our legislative work. However, the type of reform I am interested in is seeing more women in the Dáil Chamber. The current figures are damning. There are only 25 women elected in the current Dáil. Women represent half the population yet make up only 15% of this Parliament. Female representation in Dáil Éireann has never before exceeded 14%. Unsurprisingly, Ireland is performing very badly in world terms. Based on the 30th Dáil, Ireland ranked joint 85th in the world, with Cameroon, in terms of female representation in Parliament. Believe it or not, Rwanda, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan ranked ahead of us, countries about which we have concerns in terms of women's rights.

There are many complicated reasons for the low numbers of women in politics. It is worth noting, however, that it is not due to a general failure on the part of women candidates to be elected. The real problem is persuading women to become election candidates in the first place. Only 15% of the candidates in the recent general election were women, an increase of 2% on the last election in 2007. The debate on whether this is the result of a reluctance on the part of women to get involved in politics or a reluctance on the part of political parties to put them forward for election is ongoing. The last Oireachtas subcommittee on women's participation in politics conducted extensive research into the barriers to female participation, and named as the main obstacles the five Cs - child care, cash, culture, confidence and the candidate selection process.

Claiming Our Future, an Irish organisation devoted to equality issues, found that of the €15 million in State funding to political parties, only 3% is devoted to promoting women's participation in politics. It seems the only way to encourage parties to get serious about this issue is to hit them where it hurts - in their pockets. I am delighted, therefore, at the recent proposals to halve State funding to political parties if they do not meet the new requirement to ensure that at least 30% of their candidates in the next general election are women.

I recognise that gender quotas are not the complete solution to this problem as they cannot work in isolation. Reform of the political culture in this country is just as important. The Minister's proposal is a good start, but it deals only with the candidate selection process. What are we doing to change the culture? We must implement real cultural change in politics and in the Dáil. Women find the arguing and shouting of male politicians very off-putting. Many of my constituents made this point very strongly when I was canvassing in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. Women are interested in getting the job done, not talking or shouting about the problem. There is also the issue of child care. There is no doubt that women are still the main carers of children in Irish society. The working hours of the Irish Parliament are not family-friendly, and I call for this to be considered when the Dáil reform Bill goes through the Houses.

The theme of the recent election was change. Many people were seeking a change in terms of which party holds the purse strings and makes the economic decisions. However, we also need radical change in our political institutions and culture. Let us hope this election has marked a real change in the prospects for women in Irish politics.

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