2011 wipeout gives FF chance to run female candidates
Micheál Martin made the claim as he insisted the party will be able to meet the 30% female candidate gender quota in time for the next general election.
Currently, Fianna Fáil has no female TDs and just two female senators — Averil Power and Mary White. In addition, it had the lowest percentage of female candidates out of any party in May’s local elections, and in the upcoming Dáil by-elections, the party has chosen two male candidates to run.
The situation suggests reaching the target is proving more difficult than claimed. However, Mr Martin said he believes the post-2011 opportunity for fresh faces to come forward means his party is in a better position than most to reach the 30% goal — and avoid a 50% funding cut fine for any group that fails to do so.
“Obviously, the big factor for us going into the 2011 election was the collapse of Fianna Fáil. But actually, paradoxically, because of that, we have an opportunity to address the balance because we have a lot of ‘greenfield sites’ in electoral terms where we don’t have incumbents and perhaps are freer in terms in ensuring balance.”
When asked to clarify why despite the publicly stated ambition to reach the target the vast majority of Fianna Fáil candidates in the local elections — a cohort likely to make up the bulk of future Dáil hopefuls — were men, Mr Martin said: “We’re not just putting women forward for the sake of it, but women who will contest competitively and be in with a chance of winning a seat.”
Defending himself from criticism that despite attempts to find female candidates to run in the upcoming by-elections in Roscommon-South Leitrim and Dublin South West, it was decided to put forward councillors Ivan Connaughton and John Lahart, he said unforeseen hurdles meant that on this occasion the gender quota had to be put to one side.
“In this constituency, in Roscommon, on this occasion, two female candidates were not in a position to run, and in fact councillor Orla Leyden has made no secret of the fact she believes lifestyle issues in Dáil Éireann are a serious barrier to her participating in national politics.
“She is a very strong local candidate here, I’ve been on the doorstep with her canvassing for Ivan, and I’d like to discuss how the whole arrangements in the Dáil could be changed to suit married women with children in her context.”
Mr Martin’s comments came after a behind-closed-doors Fianna Fáil discussion on how the party can reach the gender quota before the next general election.
Ms Power had earlier said Leinster House is a “really weird” place to work due to the lack of balance between the sexes.
Micheál Martin insisted he has not put forward his second-choice candidate in the upcoming Dáil by-election, despite admitting he initially attempted to convince a different candidate to run.
Speaking to reporters on gender quotas in Irish politics, the Fianna Fáil leader said he sounded out Orla Leyden to run in Roscommon-South Leitrim but that the sitting councillor rejected the proposal for lifestyle reasons.
The situation led to suggestions that the candidate, councillor Ivan Connaughton, is his own party’s second choice for the vital west of Ireland seat. However, Mr Martin insisted this was not the case.
“No, I didn’t say that, no no. Actually, Ivan is a first-class candidate as well, and is entitled to run as well,” said a laughing Mr Martin, who was flanked by Mr Connaughton.
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