Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

Senator Rónán Mullen is no longer with us. I concur with the response Senator Ivana Bacik gave at the time. Senator Rónán Mullen stated voters elected whomever they wanted to elect. Frankly, they do not. I think it shows an extraordinary misunderstanding of the political process. Voters select candidates from the list of persons they are given. As Senator Ivana Bacik pointed out, in several constituencies in the last general election people were not given a choice to chose candidates on gender grounds.

Senator Rónán Mullen suggests Members are embarrassed by quotas. I am not. I am embarrassed that 15% is the highest level of female representation ever achieved in an election to the Dáil. I am also embarrassed that there are constituencies in which there have been no women on the ticket. I am embarrassed that two general elections ago my party put up four candidates in one constituency all of whom were men, but I am certainly not embarrassed about bringing progressive legislation through the House. As I stated on Second Stage, it is a necessary evil, although I wish we did not have to do so. Everybody who has spoken in favour of it has made the same point.

In respect of local elections, I have made the point that they are an important process in giving persons an opportunity to gain political experience prior to participating in general elections. It is also important to look at local elections, not just as a pipeline for entry to national politics but also in their own right. When local authorities are making decisions on such issues as planning applications and the provision of local facilities such as a playground, it is important that there be balanced representation and a mix of views at the table. Local authorities, apart from their role in giving persons opportunities to gain political experience, should be representative. I look forward to hearing the Minister's reply, but I am confident that the way the amendment is worded meets the purpose and would amend the political funding Act in the appropriate way.

In respect of Seanad elections, Members are elected through various routes. I came through one of the vocational panels, but I was nominated by other Oireachtas Members on what they called the inside list. For the benefit of Members who are elected through other routes such as the universities and the Taoiseach's nominees-----