Women’s political leadership in Ireland

Yvonne GalliganDirector

Women elected in UK and Ireland, 1997-2012

Dail

Northern

Irelan

d Assembly

House of C

ommons

Scotti

sh Parl

iament

Assembly

of Wale

s0

102030405060

1997-01 2002-04 2005-08 2011-12

PERC

ENTA

GE

Critical Mass - definition

• The minimum threshold an under-represented group needs to obtain to influence decision-making in a sustainable manner.

• This threshold is 30%.

Childs, S., and Krook, M.L., (2008), ‘Critical mass theory and women’s political representation’, Political Studies, 56 (3), pp.

725-736.

* NOT ALL SELECTIONS HELD; WWW.ADRIANKAVANAGHELECTIONS.ORG

% women candidates Irish GE 2011, 2016*

Fianna Fail Fine Gael Labour Sinn Fein Independents0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

15 15

27

20

10

22

3739

37

30

2011 2016*

PERC

ENTA

GE

Women Local Councillors in NI, 1989-2014, (%)

1993 1997 2001 2005 2011 20140

102030405060708090

100

12.2 14.6 18.5 21.5 23.5 25

% Women

PERC

ENTA

GE