Call for gender quotas in Local elections

There's been a renewed call for a gender quota to be introduced at local government level, similar to what applies at General Elections.

Just five of 18 councillors (28%) returned to Cavan County Council at the weekend were women - no change from the makeup at the end of the last council term. It is, however, one more than was elected in 2019 - Cllr Áine Smith having taken the place of her late father, Seán, early last year during the local government term.

Co-incidentially, the percentage outturn is almost identical to the proportion of women who put their names on the ballot paper - 10 out of 38 or, again, 28%. One in two of those (50%) were successful. Nationally, 681 women ran for election in the Local Elections (31.4%) almost one in three candidates.

While Cavan as a whole fares somewhat better than the national average in terms of women elected, the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District is an outlier.

No women were elected to the LEA at the weekend. Two had put themselves forward - Grainne McPhillips (Aontú) and Angela Gaffney (SF) - but were unsuccesful.

Commenting following her elimination, McPhillips said: "The consensus from engaging with people was that they were fed up with the parties in power and how different issues were being dealt with. There was also a desire for female representation in the Ballyjamesduff area. However, on polling day, this was not reflected."

Four females contested the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District with three of them making it across the line. Niamh Brady (FG), Aine Smith (FF) and Patricia Walsh (FF) were all elected. However, Susuana Komolafe (Ind) was eliminated early on.

Also, in Bailieborough-Cootehill, four women entered the race. Interestingly the top two polling candidates in this district were female - Cllr Sarah O'Reilly (Aontu) and Carmel Brady (FG). Marina McEntee (SF) and Fiona McCormack (Ind) were unsuccessful.

Speaking to the Celt at the count centre, Niamh Brady, who won the seat vacated by her retiring mother, Cllr Madeleine Argue, highlighted the "importance" of solid female representation in Local Government. “It's important to see a good female representation on the council. I'm proud of the work my mother did, and proud to carry that on. I look forward to working with Carmel, Áine, Patricia and Sarah," she added.

Women for Election, meanwhile, has called on the government to implement a candidate quota for the next Local Government elections at 40% - the same as for the next General Election.

It says while those structures are being ironed out, political parties can take comprehensive steps towards redressing the gender imbalance, including female-only shortlists for co-options and developing internal party rules that mandate 50:50 in all internal positions, and in candidate selection conventions.