Ireland

Gender quotas should be extended from national elections to the 2024 local government elections to ensure Ireland is in line with other European countries, new research has recommended.

It also found that some female elected members believe local government to be “a boys’ club”, while others spoke of being the target of misogynistic slurs at public council meetings.

Women running for election are more likely to be the victims of personalised, misogynistic abuse - online and at the doorstep - than their male counterparts.

That is according to new research published today which also shows that female representation at council level across the country - while still very low - has almost doubled in 30 years to 24%.

The study, commissioned by Cork City Council's Women's Caucus, was undertaken by UCC's Centre for Local and Regional Governance.

Parties will have ensure 40% of their candidates in the next general election are women if they want to avoid a funding cut.

If the current government survives past the end of the year, political parties will be expected to ensure at least 40% of their candidates in the next general election are women.

Just before Christmas, a government report highlighted that over half of the Irish population believes the most important role for a woman is to take care of her home and family. The most important role for a man, according to a significant proportion of the population (almost 40%), is to earn money.

The online abuse of women in politics is on the increase in Ireland, and has included threats of physical and sexual violence against them and their families, a study has found.

Current and former female members of the Oireachtas and councillors from all major political parties were interviewed for the NUI Galway study, carried out by a team from the Journalism and Communication discipline.