Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

The former Minister Ms Gemma Hussey is in the Visitors Gallery and I welcome her to the House.

I concur with Senator Ivana Bacik that we need to consider reducing the seven year period, as that would be of benefit. We would like to see more women involved in politics. In practical terms, as Senator Cáit Keane said, if we start with a figure of at least 30% of candidates being women, it gives everybody involved the political parties the chance to engage in a proper debate and to find women who are almost on the cusp of entering politics. If we were to increase the figure to 40%, perhaps we might be looking for women who were not quite ready. Given that confidence has been spotted as a problem, forcing people before they are ready to become involved may have a perverse effect and we might find the number falling back in subsequent elections. I am very happy, therefore, with the starting figure of 30%, but I would like to see the period of seven years being reduced to five, as this would go a long way in the direction of the spirt of the amendment.