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THE NUMBER OF confirmed candidates for the next general election – whenever that will be – already exceeds the total number of women who ran in 2011.
According to Women for Election, some 89 women have so far confirmed their candidacy. Director of Operations Suzanne Collins said the face of Irish politics “has the potential to be significantly transformed” in the next election.
As of now the 89 women intending to contest the upcoming election make up just over 30% of the currently declared candidates compared to just 15% in 2011. New gender quotas require the larger parters to meet the minimum level of 30% female candidates and Collins said that the number of women running is likely to increase once more independents emerge.
On current figures, of those women selected by the larger parties 87% are currently elected at either local or national level. If women who have previously run for local or national election are included in this group, it rises to 93%. So the women selected so far by the parties subject to the gender quota for selection are proven campaigners, vote getters and seat winners.
Women for Election is running a three-day residential political campaign school EQUIP from the 7-9 of September to train, mentor and support women to run winning campaigns. This will include advice from international experts on building a team, campaign strategy, media training, social media strategy, advice on how to read polls, pitch stories to local and national media, good campaign governance and fundraising.
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Vaginas matter more than policies.
Should it not be based on best candidate not just gender. Positive discrimination they call it.
Will they be running for elections without tampons like the marathon runner, joking lol.
The Dail should represent a utopian egalitarian space where every possible combination and type of human characteristic is equally represented. Policies can be decided later.
Sure it’s all based on who’s the best school teacher don’t you know.
You can’t eat policies.
As long as their not stupid, corrupt or liars or populist bandwagon jumpers, I couldn’t care if it’s a man or woman. I’d rather a functioning and responsibil government who are accountability for their actions
The only view women should have is the view from the kitchen window.
who are accountability ????? ffs
and after we satisfy the gender quota, the transgender and lgbt quota and lets not forget the racial and inter racial quota or the people from another random minority quota we’ll have a bunch of quota satisfied people that know fcuk all about running a country creating legislation for everyone. place heads between legs folks an kiss your collective arses goodbye
In fairness, the quota for people who know eff all about running a country is well filled.
there’s a difference between knowing fcuk all and doing fcuk all. we’re now heading towards both eventualities.
I think it might be a good thing to have more women in the dail. They have a lot better dress code then some of the men. They are a disgrace to the people of this country. It’s embarrassing when watching TV with people from other countries. Why they are allowed to site in our House of Parliament with scruffy T shirt I don’t know. Are the powers that be are afraid to do their job. Please do something now before the next lot get in. The people who put them there can’t be proud for voting for them either. Lets make changes.
We need to be very careful these days. I am not even sure if it’s ok to say the word woman anymore.
You had to say it, didn’t you!? Run, run like the wind, before anyone notices.
Also , Of course the journal HAVE to add something about the ssm ref. Couldn’t have a article without either that or abortion
Will they be electioneering and breast feeding at the same time, whoops… lol.
Boo hoo Barry, they are putting themselves forward the only people who will booting anybody out is the people when they vote. Everybody can put themselves forward if not by party then as an independent. BTW men have not done a great job of running the country so far.
Because Joan Burton has been just brilliant! Save the man bashing. Best candidate for the job. regardless of gender.
See my vest, is that sarcasm?
Yeah Joan’s been running the country for all of these years and I believe I just said that these women have put themselves forward not taken a man’s place. Vote for them or not but don’t be upset because you feel it’s unfair.
But there are several others who’ll be running, Joan Collins and Ruth Coppinger, for example, who aren’t relying on their gender but rather their championship of ordinary people, to get elected.
Heard Joan Collins on the radio a few weeks ago, she was awfully inarticulate, barely able to string a sentence together.
Unfortunately I agree Donal, she simply doesn’t sound coherent
This will split the vote but the same ould faces will always get in, again and again… What use are people who follow party lines as it doesn’t matter who you vote for as it is voting for the party???
This, http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/revealed-fianna-fail-prepared-to-back-minority-fine-gael-government-31454259.html published over the last couple of days is proof, if such were needed, that whatever they say, Fianna Fail are completely supportive of all the austerity policies of the current administration so quite apart from the same old faces we’ll have the same old austerity.
All the more reason people to think carefully before allocating your lower preferences.
I said that in an earlier post as I have always said that the 3 main parties are three fingers on the same E.U. hand or is that Merkel’s hand?
but..but.. who’ll make the ham sandwiches for the party fundraisers!!!???
frankly I don’t care how many women run for election if they are anything like the parasites for men we have already we could do without this tug of sexes that’s going on!
Well Lydia, judging by those who have gone before as representatives of the major parties, I wouldn’t be too confident. The names of Mary Coughlan, Mary Harney, Mary O’Rourke, Joan Burton, Beverly Flynn, Lucinda Creighton won’t have future history students writing glowing essays on their contribution to Irish society. Not that many of their male counterparts would either, in fact, despite not being a FF supporter, I can safely say that the only politician I can think of who made a significant impact, for the general good, in the last sixty years was Sean Lemass. What a pity his daughter hadn’t the same sense.
Women on the election posters now… Just photoshop head…
http://bodymindwellnesscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Domenico-PANETTI-Madonna-che-allatta-il-Bambino-breastfeeding-771×1024.jpg
He he, sorry…
Is that the Government teat that feeds so many ?
Feeds few at the cost of many.
The Dail is full of teats and I spelled it your way Chini lol.
Chini, might be Merkel’s, only joking…
What will the Femistasi do if their gender quotas don’t result in these women getting elected? Force everyone to vote for them?
Ah yeah Jake, sure!
Grow up Jake, you gobdaw. Your parents will eventually buy you a woman, don’t lose hope and become bitter!
Very happy to be part of a country that has such strong female role models. Equality isn’t there yet but we’re making steps forward. It doesn’t matter if they don’t get elected that’s a side point to the stance of women taking the step up to even go for the election. Obviously I will vote for best candidate but still makes me happy to see these efforts. Go Ireland equality. No man is superior to any women. True some people outshine others but Sex and gender shouldn’t be a factor.
contradict yourself often? You say that sex and gender shouldn’t be an issue yet you also say that it doesn’t matter if they don’t get elected? this clearly is putting sex and gender before any other obvious merits for getting the job. I’m not sure if that was your intention or not.
“no man is superior to any woman”. I’ll go and tell Fr. Peter McVery he’s level or inferior to Catherine Nevin.
Oh for Jayz sake. That kind of shight would turn you off equality
its early yet, but that post is a contender for dope-of-the-day.
@nicholas what a Mangina/White knight you are
About time women got the finger out!
It is still going to be about 7pm before she gets the spuds on.
So what? I have been seriously disappointed by the behaviour of many of the female sex when they get their feet under the banqueting table. I give you Ms. Burton, Ms Fitzgerald, Ms Lynch, Ms. O’Sullivan, Ms Creighton, Ms Tuffy…the list goes on – and I haven’t even touched the list of out and out nutters infesting the Senate.
This is a great reminder that 40% of the public are unrepresented.
That’s just dumb. By your logic female candidates will only represent women’s interests.
@ Scarr I’ll assume you know dumb when you see it. My reference was to the simple fact that all the women shown were in favour of SSM, the YES plackard, and do not represent the 40% who voted NO. I’m hoping those who are pro-life and supportive of family, will vote accordingly this time around. We have had enough blind destruction of the family.
have your say