Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
1355. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to increase gender quota percentages for general elections; if work is being undertaken on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35990/18]
View answerPart 6 of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 (which amends Part III of the Electoral Act 1997) provides that, in order to receive full State funding under the Electoral Acts, a qualified political party must have at least 30% women candidates and at least 30% men candidates at a general election. This came into effect for the first time at the general election of February 2016.
The 2012 Act also provides that the general election held next after the expiration of seven years from that 2016 general election will see the 30% gender provisions rise to 40% i.e. the 40% gender provisions will apply at any general election taking place from 2023 onwards.
