The National Women‘s Council (NWC) has welcomed the publication of the first Local Democracy Taskforce – Government Implementation Plan as an important step towards strengthening local democracy, bringing greater decision-making powers to local government and supporting elected representatives to better serve their communities.
NWC hopes that measures included will support more gender-balanced local governance, with increased supports for women and people from diverse backgrounds.
However, the Plan misses an important opportunity to place gender equality at the heart of its implementation. Women are referenced only a handful of times, and little recognition is given to the structural barriers that continue to prevent women from participating equally in local politics. That includes the lack of affordable and accessible childcare, which is one of the biggest barriers to women entering and remaining in politics – yet not addressed in the implementation plan.
With local government in Ireland having long been recognised internationally as one of the weakest systems in Europe, the Implementation Plan acts as an important opportunity to build a more representative and inclusive system.
Disappointingly, the Implementation Plan does not advance Ireland’s international human rights commitments under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The CEDAW Committee has repeatedly recommended the introduction of temporary special measures, including gender quotas at local level, to accelerate women‘s equal representation at all levels of political decision-making.
Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women‘s Council, said “while welcome, the Implementation Plan misses an important opportunity to embed gender equality throughout. Strengthening local democracy must also mean increasing women‘s participation, representation and leadership in local democracy.”
“The continued rollout of the Women‘s Regional Caucus Network is a positive commitment and one we strongly welcome. As the Government strengthens local democracy, gender equality must be embedded across every step of the plan, from governance and decision-making to participation, representation and leadership.”
Liliana Fernández, Leadership Officer at the National Women‘s Council, added,”Ireland’s local government has long been recognised internationally as one of the weakest systems in Europe, with limited local decision-making powers.”
As local government takes on a stronger role, it is essential that the needs and experiences of women are reflected in how local services are designed and delivered, from childcare and transport to housing and recreation. This Implementation Plan is an important step towards strengthening local democracy, but the next phase must ensure gender mainstreaming is fully integrated across every aspect of implementation.
“Creating a local government system that truly reflects the diversity of our communities means ensuring women, Traveller women, disabled women and women from other underrepresented communities can participate equally in political life. We need stronger action to address the structural barriers that continue to prevent many women from entering and remaining in local politics. This includes family-friendly policies and structures at local level, provision of childcare, tackling violence against women in politics, including online misogyny and racism and stronger commitments to Traveller representation, all recommendations from NWC’s report, Women Beyond the Dáil: Access, Representation and Retention in Irish Local Government.”