Sir, – I could not agree more with Barry Walsh (May 22nd) about the reasons for the low representation of women in Irish local politics, but I would go a bit further. I worked alongside local politicians for many years and in my humble opinion there are many differing and complex reasons why a person would subject themselves to the public scrutiny and the hardships required to get elected. They have to be either highly motivated to make a contribution to the common good (a few), hardworking (most), cheerfully available day and night (most), ambitious (all) or just egotistical (plenty).
They are expected to be on call to their electorate 24/7, they are expected to solve everyone’s problems and can be subjected to all sorts of abuse and misinformed comment. And they are not really that well paid for their efforts. It must also be said that many collude in the confusion that exists about what they actually do and what they actually can do.
Maybe the truth about the low percentage of women going forward for election is simpler than the statistics suggest. Maybe they are just smarter and do not wish to waste their time and energy in the chaotic political scene that is local government, Irish-style. – Yours, etc,
GER MULVEY,
Kells Road, Kilkenny.