Let the voters decide

In the last general election there were six male candidates for every woman candidate.

The outcome of the election was essentially the same, with women deputies comprising just 15% of the overall total in the Dáil.

Of course, it does not follow that there is necessarily a correlation between the number of party candidates and the number of deputies elected. Fianna Fáil put up more candidates than any other party in the last general election, but it fared dismally.

The party had eight women deputies in the last Dáil, but it failed to elect even one last time. That included six women deputies who failed in their bids for re-election.

Those who are complaining that Ireland has fallen from 39th to 79th place internationally in terms of the number of women representatives should be asking why this has happened.

Did 40 countries adopt positive measures that brought about these changes, and if so, what measures?

The Government is planning to encourage the election of more women by requiring each party to ensure that at least 30% of its nominees are women.

Any party that fails to do so will have its exchequer funding reduced.

Ultimately it is the electorate that must decide. People are inevitably suspicious of politicians trying to manipulate elections in any way, whether it would be on an ideological, party, or gender basis — no matter how well intentioned.

There is too much cynicism with politics and politicians already.