Warm welcome for new Meath Women’s Caucus

The setting up of the Meath Women’s Caucus with the aim of promoting women in politics and breaking down barriers against their participation was given a warm welcome by Meath county councillors at their monthly meeting.

The caucus, which involved 14 female councillors on Meath County Council, was launched to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Caucus Chairperson Cllr Maria Murphy said that many people would be aware that women were under-represented in politics and the quotas set by Government for the participation of women in elections and its plan to improve the situation. A survey had been carried out last year among women councillors across the country. Late last year women had held three “barnstorming sessions” to work out their vision for the future.

“I think it is fair to say that the members of the caucus in Meath are ambitious in their vision for the group. We are fortunate in having 14 women among the 40 councillors on Meath County Council “.

Meath had one of the highest gender balance rates, she said.

It was important that these women had the support of their male colleagues.

The caucus vice-chairperson Cllr Aisling Dempsey said the group’s goal was to enhance the role of women in politics and to grow their participation in local government and in leadership roles generally. “We aim for gender equality in the council and beyond”. It was typically known that women needed more encouragement to go forward in politics and leadership roles of any kind.

Research showed that twice as many men as women considered themselves qualified for a political career. It was a trait that they could all admire in the male councillor. “Women are encouraged into political life and leadership roles not through their own self-belief, unfortunately but by others. Encouragement, empowerment and breaking barriers are the motivations which broadly speaking needed for women to push themselves forward for leadership roles. There are many traditional women’s issues that we as a caucus can highlight in this chamber and through the media”.

Cllr Dempsey highlighted the issue of maternity leave for councillors. This was an issue that engaged her attention at the moment. However, it was not just an issue for her – it was a family issue.