Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Power said, it is difficult to get the wording of this right. However, there is one change I would like to see in amendment No. 4, and I raised this previously with the Minister's office. The idea of the panels of candidates is right. That is a good way of doing it and mirrors what has been done for the other panels. However, it is unduly conservatively worded with the use of the word "may" in the new subsection (5) which states: "The Minister shall make regulations for the conduct of elections for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and the regulations may provide -". I suggest that it should state: "...and the regulations shall provide". That would be a belt and braces way of ensuring that this would be done. There are enough provisos later to ensure that the Minister and the local authorities are not unduly bound. The new paragraph (b) provides "that, as far as practicable, a minimum number of women and a minimum number of men shall be elected from each authority". That is one proviso, while subsection (6) provides that the Minister shall have regard to the objectives. Those are much less prescriptively worded. There should, however, be prescriptive language used in terms of the regulations being made. That is my one reservation about the amendment and I would be delighted if it could be amended again on Report Stage.

Senator Moran and I are happy to withdraw our amendment on the basis that the Minister's amendment replaces it and seeks to fulfil the same function. I made these comments on Second Stage and pointed to the need for an amendment to ensure there is a gender balance in the local authority membership of the education and training boards. I am delighted the Minister accepted that in principle and, as he said, it was really a matter of practicality that it was not included.

I must express my gratitude to the current councillor and former Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, who first raised this with me. As Minister, Niamh Bhreathnach had ensured that the previous VEC legislation provided for gender balance in the local authority membership of the VECs and she was very anxious to see that principle enshrined in the education and training boards legislation. I am delighted that it will now be so enshrined. However, we might strengthen the wording somewhat by changing that single word in amendment No. 4. I am very grateful that the Minister has accepted this in principle. The Bill is strengthened as a result and there will be better representation of men and women.

Finally, like Senator Power, I would like to have seen perhaps strengthened legislation in terms of local authority membership and quotas for political parties, but I believe the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act will make a huge difference in the next general election and in the next local elections because parties will have to bring forward women candidates. There is a very poor level of representation at local level, at approximately 16%, while the level in the Dáil is 15%. Of course, it is 30% in the Seanad, which might be why the Seanad has been a driving force for gender equality-----