Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and I will focus my remarks on gender quotas. I commend the Minister on this legislation. The introduction of gender quotas is a welcome first step towards increasing the number of female representatives in the political institutions in this State. Sinn Féin supports gender quotas and considers them necessary if we want political reform.

Full and equal representation is necessary within the political structure and institutions in this country. The evidence from other jurisdictions suggests that gender quotas deliver, and delivery is required at this juncture. Currently, only 25 of the 166 Dáil seats are held by women. Females have never made up more than 15% of the membership of this House, which is the current percentage. Recent years have not been especially positive. In the most recent general election only five more women were elected than in 1992. This compares with an average of 24% female representation across all European parliaments. This has been a persistent trend. Since the foundation of the State only 91 women have served in the Dáil.

Many people have fears and concerns about gender quotas and tokenism. Research has shown that in other jurisdictions in which gender quotas have been applied their political institutions have been transformed. In nearly all states that have introduced quotas there has been a significant increase in the representation of women. In Sweden, 45% of members of parliament are female, in Germany it is 32% and in Norway it is almost 40%. Research carried out by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women shows that in order for females to have a substantial influence on the decisions taken by a governing body they need occupy only one third of the parliamentary seats. The European Parliament went further in a resolution on 18 January 2001, which refers to achieving a balanced gender representation of a minimum of 40% of each gender in parliament.

We must ensure there is an increase in representation of women in both the Dáil and local government. Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of evidence in Ireland suggests that one of the main barriers to women entering political life relates to the socioeconomic position of women in society in terms of their attitude to flexible working patterns, attitudes to sharing child care between parents and the quality and price of child care. Research undertaken by political scientists in Ireland has found that once women are selected as candidates voters do not discriminate on gender grounds.

The stark reality is that although I am one of the majority outside this Chamber, within it I am just one of 25 females elected to the Dáil. As a mother, I am well aware of the reality of what is involved in being a female politician. One of the biggest obstacles to political life for women is child care in view of the times at which meetings are held, the time required to be dedicated to political activity, the male dominated culture of society generally, the network surrounding politics and, critically, the length of time away from one's family and children.

At present, there are many issues affecting women from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Women are the largest group of those who were excluded from the benefits of the Celtic tiger economy. Households headed by lone parents and older women remain at high risk of poverty and structural inequalities continue to trap many women in low paid, part-time employment. We must ensure they are given every opportunity to enter political life. I have engaged with many different female organisations and there is much support and assistance available to ensure we achieve equal representation for women. These organisations are extremely enthusiastic and committed to the objective of increasing women's participation in political life. We must engage with these organisations to make progress.

Every time the issue of gender quotas is debated there are strong reactions, both supportive and oppositional. However, I urge everybody to look at the evidence. Studies have shown that where gender quotas have been introduced, they have led to remarkable and rapid increases in women's representation.

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