Statement: Bacik Welcomes Positive Action to Elect More Women

BACIK WELCOMES POSITIVE ACTION TO ELECT MORE WOMEN

Senator Ivana Bacik
Labour Party Seanad Group Leader
20th January 2012

Speaking at a conference convened by Minister Kathleen Lynch TD on ‘How to Elect More Women' in Dublin Castle today, Senator Ivana Bacik will outline the recommendations of the Oireachtas Justice Committee's 2009 report on women's participation in politics. Senator Bacik will say:

“The research I did for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Law Reform clearly shows that positive action measures are necessary in order to increase the levels of women's participation in politics. Ireland ranks at 79th in the world rankings of women in parliament – an appalling figure at the bottom of the European league tables. Our position has actually worsened over the last decade because we have not taken action to encourage more women to enter politics; while other EU countries which have adopted positive action measures have seen women's participation rates improve dramatically.”

Welcoming the introduction of legislation as recommended in the 2009 Report, Senator Bacik will say:

“The report recommended that political parties should be obliged to take gender balance into account in selecting candidates for local, general and European elections. I am delighted that legislation providing for a minimum proportion of candidates of each gender will be introduced in the Seanad on 2nd February. The measures on gender in the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 should significantly improve the levels of women's participation in politics.”

ENDS