Women can’t be elected if they don’t stand

I welcome Anthony Leavy’s letter (Irish Examiner, January 19) as a valued contribution to the gender debate in Ireland.

Women form 50% of the electorate, yet they fall far short of that figure in our national parliament and at local authority level.

I have been involved in politics all my life and have been privileged to act as a public representative for the last 10 years at national and local level. I have always maintained that a woman’s voice should be heard at representative level, not necessarily because they have something better to say but because they have something different to say, and that opinion must be represented.

Working as a woman in politics can be difficult at times, particularly for those of us with young children, but it is very rewarding and a very worthwhile profession.

Mr Leavy believes women voters often ignore women candidates. As there are so few female public representatives anyway, I wonder if this is true.

On this point I must differ with him as I feel the main reason so few female candidates are elected to Dáil Éireann is because very few of them stand for election.

To date, I am the only female candidate running for election in Cork South Central and Kathleen Lynch is the only female candidate running for election in Cork North Central.

In an effort to see more women in national politics we must encourage women to become involved in local politics. The female members of all political parties especially must continue to seek an increase in their number at local authority level.

It is also very important that political parties continue to provide the vital support that is necessary if female candidates are to be attracted to national politics.

Women have a lot to offer politics. They can make a valued contribution to important areas in society such as healthcare, education, childcare and care of the elderly.

Women can also make significant contributions to budgetary discussions, planning developments and economic debates. Let’s not have a male versus female debate.

Instead we should have a level playing pitch and a recognition of the role that women can play in politics.

Cllr Deirdre Clune

Douglas Village East

Douglas

Cork