Statement: Bacik speaks on Women's Participation in Politics at Conference Opening

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Monday 25th June, 2012

BACIK SPEAKS ON WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS AT CONFERENCE OPENING

Speaking this morning at the opening of an academic conference organised by the European Consortium for Political Research, which is taking place in the Seanad Chamber today, Senator Ivana Bacik will address the topic of women's representation in politics, saying:

“I am delighted that decisive action has been taken by this Government to address our appallingly low rates of women's representation in parliament.

Women make up only 15% of our TDs – we rank at 79th place in the world tables of women's political representation, way below the European average.

What is more, our rates of representation have got worse in recent years. Urgent action through legislation is required to address this – and I am really delighted that this will be done with the passing of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, which has already passed through the Seanad and is currently before the Dail.”

In November 2009, Senator Bacik launched the Report of the Sub-Committee on Women's Participation in Politics established by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. This Report received cross-Party support from all those on the Justice Committee.

A key recommendation in the Report was the need for legislation to require political parties to select a minimum proportion of women candidates to put before the electorate at local, national and European elections. This recommendation is contained in the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, which will require political parties to select at least 30% of their candidates of each gender for the next General Election.

ENDS