Gender law ‘a reasonable action’

A law requiring political parties to field 30% male and female candidates in the next two general elections if they are to continue to receive state funding is “a reasonable course of action to address the historic under-representation of women in Irish politics”, the High Court has been told.

Fiona Buckley, a UCC lecturer specialising in gender politics, was giving evidence for the State in the continuing challenge by Fianna Fáil activist Brian Mohan.

He disputes the constitutionality of provisions of the Electoral (Political Funding) Act 2012 linking state funding of political parties to their achievement of gender quotas when selecting candidates for election.