On the eve of Taoiseach Enda Kenny dissolving the 31st Dáil, Conor McMorrow of RTÉ’s Political Staff has been speaking to the Women for Election group to find out how many women are contesting Election 2016.
It will be an election like no other. For the first time in a Dáil election, at least 30% of the candidates from the main political parties will be female.
The non-partisan Women for Election group has been keeping a count of the female candidates declared in the race.
A health warning accompanies these figures as the list will not be completely finalised until nominations close.
(Source: Women for Election)
So far 149 of the 489 candidates are women. While three constituencies have more than 50% women running, the Limerick County constituency currently has no female candidates.
Suzanne Collins, Director of Operations for Women for Election, said: “It is really encouraging that 30% of candidates are women in this election. It shows the really positive effect gender quotas have had.”
“It is really striking that only two of 40 constituencies have fewer than two women candidates on the ballot. These are Meath West and Limerick County.
“In 2011, 16 of the 43 constituencies had fewer than two women on the ballot. While it is disappointing these two constituencies have so few women candidates, they are an anomaly and they are the exception.”
Gender Quotas in Numbers
Only 95 of the 1,242 TDs elected to Dáil Éireann have been women - just 7.6% of TDs since the foundation of the State have been women.
Of the 196 Cabinet ministers, 15 were women.
The percentage of women running for the Dáil was on a gradual but steady decline prior to the introduction of the gender quotas for selection, with 20% in 1997, 19% in 2002, 17% in 2007, and 15% in 2011.
Conor McMorrow, RTÉ Political Staff
