b'A desire for gender equality in Irish politics is making itself Founded in 2012 by Michelle ODonnell Keating and Niamh known across the Republic of Ireland. A recent poll of over 1,000 Gallagher with a mission to inspire and equip women to succeedpeople showed that 69% of those surveyed believed that local in political life, Women For Election has now held over 35 Councils would make better decisions if there were more women trainingprogramsacrossIrelandandtheEUforwomen councillors.When asked to choose between two candidates, one interestedinbecomingmorepoliticallyinvolvedintheir man and one woman of equal merit, 58% said they would vote community, in student politics or national politics. The voice offor the woman in order to increase female representation. Yet womenwasntbeingheardinpoliticaldebate,explainstraditionally women have been under-represented in IrishMichelle. It wasnt being used as an influencer into how policypolitics. Women make up only 16% of elected representatives, was being made.Our vision is of an Ireland and a world wherean increase of just 1% in ten years, despite comprising about one men and women sit equally at the table in political life.third of the membership of the main political parties.The skills of women coming to the election process haveWomen For Election is working to ensure that the pool of fe- been honed in other areas. Weve worked with 600 women nowmale candidates for office is not only present, but well-prepared in Ireland and in a number of other EU member states, saysand equipped for leading Ireland into the future. Through their Niamh. But particularly in Ireland we noticed that confidenceprograms and workshops, funded in part by The Ireland Funds, was much more nuanced. The women who have been throughtheyhavebroughttogetherhundredsofwomenfromour programs are running businesses, running communitydiverse political parties to receive practical support from experts groups, they are active in trade unions. Theyre not unconfident,in communication, political campaign strategy and leadership. but most of them have not run for politics before and thereforethey dont feel qualified to run for politics because they dontINSPIRE, EQUIP, INFORMThe Ireland Funds are helping Women For Election Increase the Participation of Women in Irish PoliticsMIRIAM HENNESSY, GREEN PARTYIts about gender balance. Its not about one is better thanthe other. It is writing the combined song of both to createmore than the separate genders. Women bring somethingdierent and men bring something dierent and togetherthey can create something. Thats what were striving for.DEIRDRE DONNELLY, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATEI dont think Id be running if I hadnt gone through thetraining courses that had been provided by Women forElection. It was fantastic to get so much support and to meet all of these other powerful women who were soenthusiastic about the road ahead of them. connect2014 | 32'