Women for Election (Women for Election)

Lobbying Organisation Women for Election

Date published 21 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Increasing the number of women elected as TD's and Local Councillors. Maternity Leave for Public Representatives. Gender Quotas in Local, European and Seanad Elections. Tackling abuse of politicians. Research of the barriers to women's participation in politics. Remote voting for Dail and Seanad. Childcare/Care expenses to be included in SIPO eligible expenses

Intended results Maternity Leave for Public Representatives and Gender Quotas in Local, European and Seanad Elections. Tackling abuse of political candidates and elected politicians Updated research of the barriers to women's participation in politics Increased number of women running for national and local elections Family Friendly policies and practice for local and national politicians Introduction of childcare/care expenses as eligible expenses under SIPO

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Caitriona Gleeson

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (1)

Public Launch 'More Women Day' and Count Her In Day. Photocall outside Leinster House with representatives from all political parties invited for photo.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Senator Fiona Mc Loughlin and Senator Annie Hoey to discuss Electoral Commission Bill and potential mechanisms for implementing gender quotas for local elections

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Deputy Mary Lou Mc Donald to discuss our work to help achieve 50/50 by 2030 including the Count Her In campaign, our training programmes, our Meet the Party Event Series and an implementation mechanism for gender quotas in local government and a framework for family friendly politics

Event / Reception (1)

Online In Conversation Event where public official/leading politician is interviewed re topical issues relating to Women for Elections objective to remove barriers to political participation of women and to role model leadership styles to inspire more women to enter and succeed in Irish politics

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting with Minister Roderic O'Gorman to discuss potential funding for Women for Election

Event / Reception (6-10)

The Meet the Party Series is an online seminar where public are invited to meet political party public representatives and staff to discuss ways to get more women elected to local and national government

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Ivana Bacik Senator (Seanad)

Peter Burke Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Rebecca Moynihan Senator (Seanad)

Uruemu Adejinmi Councillor (Longford County Council)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Annie Hoey Senator (Seanad)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marie Sherlock Senator (Seanad)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hazel Chu Councillor (Dublin City Council)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Marie Casserly Councillor (Sligo County Council)

Deirdre Donnelly Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)