Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 33:

In page 26, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:

"(e ) Once the number of women elected to Dáil Éireann reaches at least 40 per cent of the total number of TDs elected in one general election and remains at that level following the next two general elections, the gender-related criteria for State funding to political parties set out in this Act shall no longer apply to general elections to Dáil Éireann.".

This amendment relates to the sunset clause. As the Minister is aware, the amendment was recommended by the all-party committee chaired by Senator Ivana Bacik. Every Member sees quotas as a short-term necessity in addressing a longer term cultural problem. The success of the quotas for which we are legislating will be become clear when they make themselves redundant. The amendment provides that "once the number of women elected to Dáil Éireann reaches at least 40 per cent of the total number of TDs elected in one general election and remains at that level following the next two general elections, the gender-related criteria for State funding to political parties set out in this Act shall no longer apply to general elections to Dáil Éireann". We have proposed similar amendments in respect of local and Seanad elections to tie them in with the sunset clause. This sensible approach is aimed at reassuring those who are concerned that we might end up with an inbuilt quota system forever. That is not anybody's objective, rather the objective is that quotas should become unnecessary when the cultural problem has been addressed. This means there would be more balanced political representation without a need to provide for it through a quota system. Therefore, I urge the Minister to accept the amendment.

On Second Stage we raised the issue of local elections. The reality is that the vast majority of candidates successful in general elections have gained experience at local level, a point acknowledged by the Minister in his remarks on the subject. I understand he is of the view that parties will take the quotas applying to general elections into account when selecting local election candidates. However, we should go further. That is the reason we propose a quota system be introduced for the next local elections. I note the Minister's comments on Second Stage about the way the political funding system works, that it is based on performance in a general election. Amendment No. 34 would provide that the amount of funding allocated to a qualified political party would still be based, in the first instance, on electoral performance but would be reduced after the following local elections if the party did not meet the requirement that at least 30% of its candidates be male and female, rising to a figure of 40%. While I have read the Bill, I do not see why there should be a legal block to continuing to base the provision primarily on performance in a general election, while providing that it would be subject to review downwards thereafter if the party did not meet its targets in respect of local election candidates. The same would apply to Seanad elections.

Given that provision is being made only for elections to Dáil Éireann, the Minister is pre-empting the outcome of a referendum on the future of the Seanad. However, that is a matter for the people. Given that there is no legal or practical block, the legislation should also apply to Seanad elections. Candidates run without a party logo, but they are nominated by their parties. The position may be different for those nominated by groups, but certainly for candidates nominated by parties through their internal systems, this should not be an issue.

Amendment No. 36 is consequential on the other amendments and has been designed to ensure that if a quota system was in place for local, Seanad and general elections, the combined impact should not exceed a reduction of 50% in funding. We have thought through those issues and have put forward an amendment to make sure that the overall loss would not be more than 50%. I ask the Minister to consider these carefully, especially the issue in respect of the local elections. This has been called for by a wide coalition of groups campaigning on the issue, including academics who have carried out research on it.