Only a Modest Boost for Women in the Incoming Irish Parliament
Ireland lags far behind most European countries when it comes to women representation in the national parliament despite the introduction of a 40% candidate gender quota for the Irish general election held on 29 November 2024. The increase in the percentage of women parliamentarians in the incoming Dáil (parliament) is just 2%, raising the total to 25% or 44 women out of 174 representatives - the most women ever elected to the Irish parliament (womenforelection.ie).
In the past 32 years, there has been an increase in both the number of women selected as candidates (from 18.5% in 1992 to 36% in 2024) and elected parliamentarians from 12% in 1992 to 25% in 2024 (womenforelection.ie). Although these are positive outcomes, progress towards a truly representative gender balance in the parliament remains slow. Yet, this election cycle did see some notable positive developments in gender representation. There was a record number of women candidates, with 246 women contesting among 687 candidates—a 52% increase compared to the 2020 general elections.
Read the full article here
Ireland lags far behind most European countries when it comes to women representation in the national parliament despite the introduction of a 40% candidate gender quota for the Irish general election held on 29 November 2024. The increase in the percentage of women parliamentarians in the incoming Dáil (parliament) is just 2%, raising the total to 25% or 44 women out of 174 representatives - the most women ever elected to the Irish parliament (womenforelection.ie).
In the past 32 years, there has been an increase in both the number of women selected as candidates (from 18.5% in 1992 to 36% in 2024) and elected parliamentarians from 12% in 1992 to 25% in 2024 (womenforelection.ie). Although these are positive outcomes, progress towards a truly representative gender balance in the parliament remains slow. Yet, this election cycle did see some notable positive developments in gender representation. There was a record number of women candidates, with 246 women contesting among 687 candidates—a 52% increase compared to the 2020 general elections.
Read the full article here