“The Taoiseach, in appointing his 11 nominees to the Seanad can for the first time in the history of the Irish Republic create a gender-balanced Seanad” said Brian Sheehan, CEO of Women for Election.
There are 20 women and 29 men Senators elected to this 27th Seanad across the five Vocational and two University Panels. If the Taoiseach was to appoint 10 or 11 women among his nominees now, there would be a gender-balanced Seanad for the first time ever.
“This Taoiseach set a clear precedent in 2020 when, following that Seanad Election, he appointed nine women among his11 nominees, demonstrating the crucial role that the Taoiseach’s nominations play in tackling gender imbalance in the Oireachtas.”
“A similar approach now would be a meaningful contribution to addressing the stark gender disparity in the Dáil, where just 25% of TDs are women. Greater representation of women in the Oireachtas would ensure that women’s voices and lived experiences are at the heart of debates and discussions on national policy and legislation.”
“There is no shortage of talented women with expertise across a wide range of fields who could be appointed, either from within the coalition parties or externally. This includes women from diverse backgrounds who would bring valuable perspectives that are currently underrepresented across the Oireachtas.”
“The nomination of Senator Eileen Flynn by the Taoiseach in 2020 as the first Traveller member of the Oireachtas was a historic step. There is now a very important opportunity to build on this by appointing a group of Senators that reflects the rich diversity of modern Ireland.”
“Currently, the Oireachtas does not have any representatives from a migrant background, despite more than 15% of Ireland’s population being of different heritages. In a country where national decisions on legislation and policy impact all residents, it is essential to ensure that voices from Traveller, ethnic minorities, and disabled communities are included and visible in these crucial discussions.”
“The Taoiseach now has a momentous opportunity to take decisive action, not only to achieve gender balance in the Seanad but also to increase the representation of women from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that the Oireachtas truly reflects the society it serves”, concluded Sheehan.