Councillor criticises FG over lack of female candidates

FINE GAEL has been criticised for a “missed opportunity” in not nominating a female candidate for at least one of two vacant seats on a county council.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan is moving legislation to penalise parties for not meeting gender targets.

But his party in Clare has offered two vacant council seats to male candidates.

Patricia McCarthy, an Independent councillor and the sole woman on Clare County Council, said: “It’s no reflection of those nominated, but I believe it is a missed opportunity not to have at least one female come through the Fine Gael selection process.”

The proposed co-options have arisen due to the elections of Fine Gael pair Martin Conway and Tony Mulcahy to the Seanad.

Bill Slattery is scheduled to replace Sen Conway but Sean McLoughlin, a town councillor in Shannon, saw off the challenge of Marinella Rafferty to replace Mr Mulcahy.

Under council rules, vacancies are filled through co-options rather than byelections. The proposed co-option is on the agenda for today’s council meeting.

The failure by Fine Gael in Clare to nominate a female candidate for one of the two vacant positions on the 32-seat council comes as the Fine Gael-led Government aims to increase female participation in national politics.

Under the Electoral Amendment Political Funding Bill 2011, parties will face a 50% cut in state funding unless proposed gender targets are met. There is a 30% gender quota for political party candidates at the next general election, which will rise to 40% for future national polls.

The two would-be councillors last week travelled to the council’s headquarters for the anticipated co-option.

However, the meeting was adjourned.