A new law to bring an end to the historic exclusion of women from Irish politics is to be brought to

Published: Thursday, December 01, 2011

This assurance was given by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan T.D. at a meeting with the National Women's Council of Ireland. The legislation will come into effect at the next general election in 2016.

Today, welcoming the move, Women's Council Chairperson Clare Tracey said:

"the 1916 leaders envisaged an Ireland in which women and men would be equal. One hundred years on this historic legislation will bring that vision closer to becoming a reality."

The legislation will ensure that unless political parties run a minimum of 30% women and men candidates (rising to 40%) they will lose 50% of their State funding.

Minister Hogan told the NWCI that he was confident the new legislation will be constitutional. He said that his officials will work with the Women's Council to promote it and to ensure that it brings about the desired change.

Eóin Murray, who coordinates the Women's Council's project to change the gender balance in the House of the Oireachtas said:

"Our current gender balance is a disgrace and an embarrassment to Ireland on the international stage. The Dáil has never been less than 86% male and we currently rank just above Zimbabwe at 76th in the world. The Women's Council has been campaigning to change this since our foundation as the Council for the Status of Women in 1973. We are delighted that the Minister has taken this initiative."