New campaign aims to see many more women contesting next local elections

In an ambitious new goal, Women for Election have  said that it aims to identify, support and encourage at least 1,000 women to contest the next local elections in 2024, including a significant increase in the number of women on the ticket in Kilkenny. 

This would mean a nearly two fold increase in the number of women who contested the 2019 local elections. Then, 560 women stood for election out of 1,975 candidates for 949 seats.

In Kilkenny, four of the 24 elected Councillors are women, giving a 17% representation, below the national average of 25% for female representation at local councils . In the Carlow-Kilkenny Dáil constituency, six of the 14 candidates who stood in the last general election (2020) were women. Two woman were elected, making Carlow-Kilkenny one of 27 constituencies which did elect at least one female - one of those women came from the Carlow part of the constituency, the other Kilkenny. Eleven – or nearly one third - of the 39 constituencies in the country still do not have a woman TD.

Caitriona Gleeson, CEO of Women for Election, said that if Ireland is to reach the stated aim of 50/50 gender representation in politics by the end of this decade, this has to start with ensuring that there is at least 50/50 representation on the Carlow and Kilkeeny ballot papers from 2024. Women belong in equal numbers on every ballot paper and at every decision-making table, she said.

Women for Election is a national, non-partisan organisation working to help achieve an Ireland with balanced participation of women and men in political life.
“The absence of a critical mass of women from the Dáil and the majority of local councils across Ireland in 2022 not only hurts women it also hurts the majority of men as the lack of diversity in decision making is severely limiting the potential for effective governance and a healthy democracy,” Gleeson said. “The status quo and democratic inertia we have had to accept in our politics is also damaging Ireland’s reputation as a progressive country.”

Gleeson acknowledged that there is both public and political will to change the static political landscape. All major political parties have shown strong support for more women in politics. The proof, however, will be in seeing a significant gender shift on ballot papers and in election results, she said.

Gleeson was speaking at the launch of Ireland’s first ‘More Women’ Day, which will coincide with the birthday of Countess Markievicz tomorrow, February 4th. Countess Markievicz was Ireland’s and Europe’s first ever Cabinet Minister in 1919. More Women Day will run annually on February 4th to raise awareness about the importance of equal and diverse political representation for Irish democracy and development. As part of this first More Women Day, Women for Election launched its newest initiative called Count Her In.

Research by Women for Election shows that women often have to be asked multiple times and by a number of people to consider running for election. The Count Her In campaign will ask women directly to count themselves in but it will also ask others to think about women they know who would make great local and national politicians and to nominate, encourage and support them to run.

Women for Election are asking people to nominate women they think could make great politicians on www.womenforelection.ie  throughout the month of February. There, they will sign up to find out more about the bespoke training and supports provided by Women for Election for women thinking about politics. The next Women for Election Inspire Campaign School takes place on-line on February 15th.