Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, to the House. He is no stranger to local government having being a Minister of State in that Department. He is hugely committed to local government, to reform and to the participation of the widest possible number of people in local government. He is a strong advocate of that and I am delighted he is here to take this Commencement matter.

The Commencement matter I have tabled is on the need for the Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government to make a statement on increasing participation of women and diversity in local government, including the funding to facilitate this participation. That is the issue. At the very outset, I acknowledge the decision yesterday of the Cabinet to approve, at least in principle, maternity leave. It is a really important step but it is only one step in terms of increasing the participation of women, particularly in local government. However, I want to see more than that. I want to see diversity within local government. I am thinking of the migrant community and of new people who have come to our shores who are eligible to participate in local government because that is also an important part of it. It is about good people in local government, and supporting people into local government.

I am supportive of promoting wider inclusivity and diversity in local government in all local decision-making. It is important the new entrants into local government are supported and facilitated and assisted in every way possible. It is also important we support the existing councillors. One of the things brought to my attention in recent weeks through the women's caucus is about bringing women into politics, which is fantastic and I fully support it. However, we must also support the women who are there already. Ageism is alive and well in local government and I do not like the suggestion that everyone has to be young to be in local government. There are very able and experienced women in the Minister of State's party and in all parties, but Fine Gael has, I think, a higher ratio of women in local government than most. These women need to be supported too. It is not about them being pushed aside for new entrants. We want new entrants in politics but we also want to support those who want to stay. That is an important point.

I acknowledged that the Cabinet has approved, in principle, maternity leave, which is important. I acknowledge also the work of the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, who has done much work collaboratively with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA. It is important to acknowledge Councillor Mary Hoade. She is a former president of the AILG and is a very strong advocate for women and for the participation of more women in local government as well as for more councillors in local government. She achieved a lot during her term as president of the AILG and I want to acknowledge that.

I acknowledge Councillor Terry O'Flatherty, who has been a councillor on Galway City Council for many years, and Councillor Karey McHugh, who was on that small steering group the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, picked to look at this issue.

What I am really saying is that it is all very progressive and very important. A new round of funding has been identified for increasing participation of women and diversity in local government, which, as it happens, is what this Commencement matter is about. There is a new call for 2022. I think we need to talk about that. We need more publicity in relation to it. People need to be aware there is funding being put in place by Government to encourage women in the parties. It is also for independent women who make a conscious choice not to join a political party. They are as valid and as important in the local government structure.

It is important we encourage people and that we support women, diversity and everyone who wants to make a significant contribution to local government.