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Whether Leo or Simon, we need full commitment to a gender balanced Dail

Published 13:04 29 May 2017 BST

Orlaith Condon

Whether Leo or Simon, we need full commitment to a gender balanced Dail

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As the fight for Taoiseach heads into it’s final days, one group are making sure women's voices are heard.

Women for Election has reached out to both Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney to commit to a 50:50 gender balance in Cabinet if either chooses to appoint new members when elected. Chairperson of Women for Election, Michelle O’Donnell Keating, wrote to both Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney, asking them to pledge their support for a Cabinet that is fully representative of women.

Here are our founders @mishodk and @niamhagallagher with Obama strategist @jomalleydillon at our event in April 2014 #OurStory pic.twitter.com/xUn20JGASX
— Women for Election (@women4election) May 26, 2017

“If elected Leader and Taoiseach, you will have a unique opportunity to build on Ireland’s recent success in furthering gender equality in national politics,” Michelle said in her letter. “Women for Election is asking you to commit to a 50:50 gender balance in Cabinet should you choose to appoint new members. “Such a move would mean for the first time in history, Ireland’s Cabinet would be truly reflective of the gender balance of the population of the country. It would ensure that women’s voices are at the centre of policy and political decisions over the course of this Dáil.”

Of the 158 members elected to Dail Éireann, 35 of those are women – a point which was celebrated after the last election because it is the highest number of women we’ve ever had in the Dail. However, a lot more is yet to be done.

“While the last election improved female representation in the Dáil significantly, we are still a long way from balanced representation. Now is the time to build upon what we have achieved,” O’Donnell Keating continued. “You have an opportunity to make a bold and impactful decision that would have a significant impact not only on women’s representation in politics but on gender representation across our society, in business, community and public life.”

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As the fight for Taoiseach heads into it’s final days, one group are making sure women's voices are heard.

Here are our founders @mishodk and @niamhagallagher with Obama strategist @jomalleydillon at our event in April 2014 #OurStory pic.twitter.com/xUn20JGASX
— Women for Election (@women4election) May 26, 2017

“If elected Leader and Taoiseach, you will have a unique opportunity to build on Ireland’s recent success in furthering gender equality in national politics,” Michelle said in her letter. “Women for Election is asking you to commit to a 50:50 gender balance in Cabinet should you choose to appoint new members. “Such a move would mean for the first time in history, Ireland’s Cabinet would be truly reflective of the gender balance of the population of the country. It would ensure that women’s voices are at the centre of policy and political decisions over the course of this Dáil.”

“While the last election improved female representation in the Dáil significantly, we are still a long way from balanced representation. Now is the time to build upon what we have achieved,” O’Donnell Keating continued. “You have an opportunity to make a bold and impactful decision that would have a significant impact not only on women’s representation in politics but on gender representation across our society, in business, community and public life.”