Ivana Bacik (Independent)

In keeping with what Senator Mac Conghail said earlier, I am in favour of the spirit of the amendment but against it on a technical level. I do not have a difficulty with the proposal to start at 30%. That was recommended in the report that was produced by the Oireachtas joint committee in 2009. That recommendation was based on the Belgian model, which involves starting with a target of one third. Such a level would represent a doubling of the proportion of candidates who were women at the last election. If it were achieved, it would mark significant progress in itself.

Although I have no difficulty with keeping the 30% figure as a starting point, I would like to see change in another respect. Would it be possible to reduce the timeframe within which the target will remain at 30% before increasing it to 40%? If that cannot be done in this House, I ask the Minister if it could be done in the Dáil. The Bill as it stands specifies a starting point of 30% at the next general election, to increase to 40% seven years after the date of that election. I would like the period within which the 40% target must be reached to be reduced somewhat. If we were to provide for a five-year period, that would be more closely aligned to the election cycle. That would give us a realistic chance of progressing to the 40% level that all Senators on this side of the House agree with. While I do not have a difficulty with the proposal to start at 30%, I would like us to agree on a reduction in the time it will take us to get to the 40% target.