Ireland

A UNITED NATIONS committee has highlighted the low representation of woman in the Dáil and at Cabinet as “priority issues” that must be addressed by the state.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated that it welcomed the findings of the UN Committee, which is tasked with “the Elimination of Discrimination against Women”.

Voting began on Friday morning in Ireland's general election amid a tight race between the incumbent coalition parties and the opposition party Sinn Fein.

The polls opened at 7 a.m. (0800 CET) and are scheduled to close at 10 p.m.

As we approach the 2024 election, Women for Election is calling for a crucial shift in Ireland’s political landscape, urging voters in Wexford and Wicklow-Wexford to support the record number of female candidates standing for election.

With a long history of gender imbalance in the Dáil, this election presents a unique opportunity to address this inequality and ensure that women’s voices are more fully represented in the decisions that shape our future.

Women are "grossly under-represented" in Irish politics and the political system is "stacked in men's favour", a seminar exploring female representation in local politics has heard. 

Ireland's political system is not female friendly — because it was designed by Victorian men for Victorian men. And it "doesn't suit dads either" it was pointed out at the discussion about the supports available to women in politics, ongoing challenges, and the gender barriers that exist in politics.

Funding of €171,162 has been announced for the Longford-based See Her Elected (SHE), in support of their work in supporting and encouraging the participation of women from rural Ireland in local politics.

Minister of State for Planning and Local Government Alan Dillon allocated the funding to Longford Women’s Link, the parent organisation of See Her Elected.

See Her Elected, an initiative aimed at getting more women from rural Ireland into politics, has said the impending general election is a "golden opportunity" to increase female participation in local councils.

New research and analysis of recent local election results - carried out by See Her Elected - found a significant electoral advantage for sitting councillors, regardless of gender.