Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I like the idea of 40% of candidates being women, but Senator Ivana Bacik has come up with a very good compromise by suggesting we reduce the timescale within which we arrive at the 40% figure. The real challenge for women, as Senator Cáit Keane pointed out, is to have the female candidates who stand for election in the coming years elected. We know how most of the party organisations are male dominated; therefore, it would be a very good idea if all parties agreed - even though this is not included in the legislation - that at least 30% of the candidates chosen to stand in the next local elections in 2014 would be female. I know the Fine Gael Party intends to do this and hope all other parties will show good faith and agree voluntarily to do the same. I would like to support the amendment tabled by Senators Fiach Mac Conghail and Jillian van Turnhout, but a figure of 30% is more realistic at this point. I, therefore, ask the Minister to consider, as Senator Ivana Bacik requested, reducing the timescale within which the 40% figure will be reached.