Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)

On behalf of the Technical Group, I extend my thanks to the Ceann Comhairle and his entire team for all of his and their work in serving the Dáil this term. I understand we forgot to say that earlier on today.

It is self-evident that the same arguments for female representation at national level should apply at local government level. From the debate on this Bill, it is my understanding that the Government would like to see its provisions regarding female representation apply at local level. When I put it to the Minister before as to the possibility of bringing in quotas at local government level, he informed me it was not legislatively possible to tie political funding to local government elections. The Government would pursue the same quota provisions if it could find a forcing mechanism and some sort of sanction that could be applied against political parties at local level. Over recent days I contacted several civil society groups which are working to further female representation in political life. They told me they had an undertaking that this was being examined in other legislation and the Government is considering it. This was not brought up on Second or Committee Stages. Will the Minister confirm whether a quota mechanism for local government is being investigated?

I will be voting for this Bill. Once again, I congratulate the Minister and his officials on a truly historic Bill.

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