‘Break the Bias’ urges Kilkenny councillor on International Women’s Day

Green Party Cllr Maria Dollard is marking International Women’s Day 2022 by encouraging women to consider putting themselves forward for the 2024 Local election.

“There is a bias towards male candidates at local representative level. The number of women representing the people of Kilkenny is well below the national average. Just 4 women in 24 elected members make up Kilkenny County Council. Women need to be at the decision-making table in all facets of life including politics”

Traditionally politics in Ireland has been dominated by men.

“The smaller parties are much more female candidate friendly but I think the big parties are also realising that if they want to attract women’s votes then they need to show that they are effectively representing them. Women are no longer happy to mop up the votes as a second or third candidate, to get another candidate in. Recent changes in pay make the job a viable part time work option for women with caring duties and some of the work is scheduled but much of it is flexible and can be managed around other family committments“

Cllr Dollard believes that politic in Ireland is changing but we have a long way to go to create an environment that is welcoming of women. 

“Women undertake more caring duties than men at every stage of their lives and the political work environment should reflect that need. Online meetings are now common place and that needs to stay. I tabled a motion this year to allow female Councillors to avail of maternity leave and other supports that women in other jobs enjoy. Working as a Councillor can sometimes feel like doing a time travel back to a time when women had less rights than men, an age when male voices were more valued than female voices. Those days are long gone in the rest of the work world. I think we need quotas but women need to be alert to being asked to run late in the day, as a ‘last minute’ idea. They need to step up themselves or be invited at least two years ahead to give themselves a chance at success. Now is the time for Kilkenny women to think of running either as an independent or for a party and get working on getting elected. Join up with the free online courses to help you with the basics and start working on it. The time is now to “Break the Bias” and be the change you want to see”