Conference to explore lack of women in politics
Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Reviewing women's political representation in Ireland will be the focus of a conference taking place at UCC next month. UCC Women's Studies in conjunction with the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI) will present the one day conference 'Moving in from the Margins: Women's political representation in Ireland' on Saturday 18 September.
Recent Oireachtas reports have recommended the introduction of a variety of measures to increase the number of women in Irish politics. Currently, there are only 23 women in Dáil Éireann accounting for 13.85 per cent of all seats. The figures for Seanad Éireann are only marginally better where 12 of the 60 senators (20 per cent of the seats) are women.
The conference will hear from a number of experts and practitioners in the fields of women's studies and gender politics. Speakers will include Senator Ivana Bacik, Professor Yvonne Galligan (Queen's University Belfast), Joanne Vance (National Women's Council of Ireland), Dr Eileen Connolly (Dublin City University), Cathleen O'Neill (Kilbarrack CDP), Kathleen Lynch, TD and Susan McKay of the National Women's Council of Ireland. The reasons for low numbers of women participating in politics will be investigated and various methods and strategies that might be introduced to increase the number of women in politics will be examined. The programme will also feature female politicians who will share their experiences of political life in Ireland.
Only 82 women out of a total of 470 candidates contested the General Election in 2007 representing the lowest number since 1989. Ireland currently lies in 82nd position in a world classification table of women's representation in parliament compiled by the inter-parliamentary union. Women account for 17 per cent of the members of local authorities and just 12 per cent of the members of regional authorities. Many reasons have been put forward for the low levels of women's representation in Irish politics. "The five Cs of childcare, cash, confidence, culture and candidate selection have been identified as key explanations for the exclusion of women from Irish politics," said Fiona Buckley, Department of Government, UCC. "The conference will address these and other relevant issues in the area of women's political representation in Ireland," she added.
The conference rate is priced at €15, with unwaged and seniors €5 while students are free of charge. The conference will take place in the Cavanagh Pharmacy Building Room LG51, UCC.
**click here to listen to Mary O Rourke and Ivana Bacik debate the issue on BBC 4 Women's Hour