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# Your Say
Poll: Should there be a gender quota in general elections?
As Mary Mitchell-O’Connor hosts an all-women meeting of TDs and senators, we are asking you: Should there be a minimum quota on the number of women putting themselves forward for political election?
FINE GAEL TD Mary Mitchell-O’Connor is leading a women-only meeting this evening of TDs and senators. The meeting of the female Oireachtas members will hear suggestions on how to increase the number of women running for the Dáil and Seanad.
Last August, Mitchell-O’Connor wrote a thinkpiece for TheJournal.ie in which she outlined possible reasons for the low number of women putting themselves forward in politics. She noted that Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan had said he intends to introduce a gender quota in general elections – there will be fines for any political party that fails to make sure that at least 30 per cent of their candidates are female. The 5050 Group also wants to introduce measures to “increase the number of women on the ballot paper”.
What do you think? Should it be mandatory for at least 30 per cent of general election candidates to be women?
Poll Results:
No - there should not be a gender quota (1443)
Yes - but the proportion of women running should be even higher (161)
Yes - that sounds right (147)
I don't know (29)
Yes, there should be a quota - but it should be lower (10)
