Fianna Fáil disappointed at lack of female candidates

Fianna Fáil leaders have said they are disappointed at their failure to attract more women candidates. Jobs spokesperson Dara Calleary conceded that one in five candidates being female in the looming May local elections was not good enough.

“We are about just under 20% on the female side of things nationally. We’re disappointed in that, we’re not hiding it. We’ve a lot more work to do there,” Mr Calleary said, adding that 120 of the 400 candidates were fresh faces who had not contested an election before.

Mr Calleary was speaking ahead of the party’s 75th ard fheis in Killarney, Co Kerry, this weekend, where among the motions to be debated will be one to establish an independent police commission to ensure accountability in law enforcement following recent controversies.