FF commits to making 30% of its local election candidates women

FIANNA FÁIL has committed itself to ensuring women account for 30 per cent of its local election candidates in 2014, following the publication of a Government Bill to introduce gender quotas in national polls.

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan yesterday published the Electoral Amendment Political Funding Bill 2011, which will halve State funding to parties unless 30 per cent of their candidates at the next general election are women. The target will rise to 40 per cent after seven years.

Niall Collins of Fianna Fáil welcomed the proposed legislation but said steps to increase women’s representation in politics should be taken sooner.

“Fianna Fáil intends to ensure that 30 per cent of its candidates at the next local elections are female. All parties should do the same,” Mr Collins said.

The Bill was widely welcomed by Government representatives, although a small number struck a sceptical tone. Labour TD Joanna Tuffy continues to oppose the measure, while Fine Gael’s Heather Humphries said: “I still don’t think I should be elected because I’m a woman; I should be elected on my ability to do my job.”

Sinn Féin’s Sandra McLellan said she was in favour of quotas “as an interim measure”, but Clare Daly of the Socialist Party expressed strong opposition.

The National Women’s Council described the Bill as “historic”, but, like Ms Daly, focused on budgetary cutbacks.

“This initiative comes against the background of a savage budget which targeted women and children,” chief executive Susan McKay said.

The 50:50 group, which campaigns for gender equality in Irish politics, welcomed the Bill but said it would continue to push for equal representation of men and women in political life by 2020. Under the proposed legislation, the gender of candidates will appear on nomination papers, which returning officers will provide to the Minister for the Environment.

The Bill also introduces measures to restrict political donations and the publication of a register of corporate donors. The acceptance of corporate donations over €200 will be banned unless the donor has registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The Bill will also reduce the maximum amount that can be accepted as a donation by a political party from €6,348.69 to €2,500 and by an individual politician from €2,539.48 to €1,000.

The threshold at which donations must be declared to the Standards in Public Office Commission will be reduced from €5,078.95 to €1,500 by a party and from €634.87 to €600 for an individual. Donations from trade unions, companies and societies above €200 will have to be reported in annual accounts.