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The Irish legislative gender quota: The first election

Author

Listed:
  • Brennan Mary

    (University College Dublin, Ireland)

  • Buckley Fiona

    (University College Cork, Ireland)

Abstract

In 2012 legislative gender quotas were introduced as part of the Fine Gael/Labour coalition government’s political reform agenda. The legislation specifies that payments to political parties ‘shall be reduced by 50 per cent, unless at least 30 per cent of the candidates whose candidatures were authenticated by the qualified party at the preceding general election were women and at least 30 per cent were men’. The 30 per cent gender threshold came into effect at the 2016 general election. Research demonstrates that gender quotas work to increase women’s political descriptive representation, but to do so, political parties must engage with them in ‘goodwill’, be ‘wellintentioned’ or place women in ‘winnable seats’. This article examines if this was the case at the 2016 general election. Using statistics, as well as drawing from interviews with party strategists, the article assesses the impact of gender quotas on women’s candidate selection and election. We conclude that parties did embrace the spirit of the gender quota law but resistance remains.

Suggested Citation

  • Brennan Mary & Buckley Fiona, 2017. "The Irish legislative gender quota: The first election," Administration, Sciendo, vol. 65(2), pages 15-35, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:admini:v:65:y:2017:i:2:p:15-35:n:2
    DOI: 10.1515/admin-2017-0013
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brendan M. Walsh, 1992. "Labour force participation and the feminising of the labour force," Working Papers 199214, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    2. Mona Lena Krook, 2010. "Why Are Fewer Women than Men Elected? Gender and the Dynamics of Candidate Selection," Political Studies Review, Political Studies Association, vol. 8(2), pages 155-168, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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