Women's Political Representation in Ireland Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by faminconnue

Dáil Éireann
= the lower house of the Irish parlia­ment, where members are elected by propor­tional repres­ent­ation, and it plays a key role in passing legisl­ation.

- It meets in Leinster House, Dublin.
- There are 160 members known as TDs.
- It is respon­sible for electing the Taoiseach (Prime Minister).
- Dáil Éireann holds the government accoun­table through parlia­mentary questions and debates.

Seanad
= the upper house of the Oireac­htas, the Irish parlia­ment, consisting of 60 members appointed through various nomination processes.

- Members of the Seanad are not elected by the general public but are chosen through different panels repres­enting various sectors like culture and education.
- The Taoiseach nominates 11 senators, while graduates of certain univer­sities, agricu­ltural organi­zat­ions, and the Irish language community elect their own repres­ent­atives.
- Senators in the Seanad can propose legisl­ation, scrutinize and amend bills passed by the lower house, but do not have the power to veto bills.
- The Seanad plays a role in repres­enting specific interests and expertise, providing a forum for in-depth discus­sions compared to the lower house.

Women in ireland have faced legal and social challe­nges, with signif­icant milestones including the right to vote in 1918

- The introd­uction of the Contra­ceptive Legisl­ation in 1980 paved the way for increased reprod­uctive rights for women.
- The Marriage Act of 1870 was a key legal reform granting women certain property rights within marriage.
- In 1974, the Employment Equality Act was passed, prohib­iting discri­min­ation on the grounds of gender in employ­ment.
- in the 1970’s women began mobilising for chance → was supported by Mary Robison’s presid­ential campaign; many parties for the first time took women’s candidacy seriously, however this change was short lived.
- The 1916 Procla­mation of Indepe­ndence called for equal “citiz­enship, equal rights and equal opport­uni­ties” and Hannah Sheehy Skeffi­ngton observed that it was “the first time in history that men, fighting for freedom, volunt­arily included women”.
→ However, the social conser­vative, patria­rchal, author­itarian and clerical culture of the new state saw women side-l­ined.
and so in 1937 a consti­tution was introd­uced:
- 41.2.1: In particular the State recognises that by her life within the home, women gives to the State a support which the common good cannot be achieved
- 41.2.2: The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home

→ 2 views on the 1937 consti­tut­ions:
- government should never interfere with what happened in the home
- it gave recogn­ition to the labour­/role of women

role of Cathol­icism: the reasse­rtion of male dominance in public, economic, and social life was a world-view shaped by Cathol­icism.
→ leading to postin­dep­endence Ireland being described as a 'confe­ssional state: Their shared vision of
Ireland as a rural, tradit­ional and Catholic nation (during the nation­alist revolu­tion.
→ the position of the catholic hierarchy was further enforced through the unchal­lenged control of its educat­ional system
→ This interl­acing of two powerful conser­vative forces left a gendered mark on the early years of the State that persisted throughout the twentieth century. → motherhood was enforced beyond the wishes of women

In Ireland, legisl­ative gender quotas require that political parties nominate 30% women candidates for general elections.

- Passed in 2012 to address gender imbalance in Parlia­ment.
- Quotas apply to parties running at least 30 candid­ates.
- Parties face financial penalties for not meeting quotas.
- Aims to increase repres­ent­ation of women in politics.

impact:
- 90 per cent increase women candidates
- 48 per cent increase in number of women TDs
- At the 2020 general election, 22.5 per cent women’s repres­ent­ation in Dáil Éireann
→ A record high but far away from gender parity