'Gender based abuse a barrier to women’s political participation'

Gender quotas should be extended to local elections, according to Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-North West. She was speaking at a ‘Different Perspectives’ event organised by Ibec,

MEP Walsh emphasised that it is crucial that women are placed as candidates in winnable seats, and with adequate time and resources to plan and run successful election campaigns, while also saying that gender-based abuse and harassment is an increasing barrier to women's political participation.

"This is a very real issue that needs to be addressed," she said. "Women, in all our diversity, must be represented at all levels of decision making. There is strength in diversity – our policies and our country suffer when we don’t have balance in politics."

MEP Walsh described gender equality as “both a moral and economic imperative”, and she stressed that closing the gender gap must be a central part of any strategy to create more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies. Continuing, she raised the issue of gender quotas in politics, and opined that they should be extended from National Elections to the 2024 Local Government Elections, to ensure Ireland is in line with other European countries.

“Following the 2020 election, Ireland was ranked 101st in the world for female representation. Only 25.5% of County Councillors across Ireland are women, and only 22.5% of Dáil members. There are now 37 female TDs out of a possible 160. Women make up more than 50% of the Irish population, but female representation is shockingly low. In 2023, this is simply not okay. If we are to reach the gender balance we so desperately need, we need at least 1,000 women to put themselves forward for the next Local Election in 2024, and 250 women to run in the next General Election,” added MEP Walsh.

Women’s participation in politics, according to the Fine Gael MEP, helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered, and the types of solutions that are proposed. “There is strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is also an increase in policy making that emphasises quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic and racial minorities. There is no doubt that female role models matter, and female representation in politics changes gender stereotypes by providing role models who inspire younger girls to get involved in the democratic process.”