Pathway to the Provision of Maternity/Adoptive/Paternity
leave for Local Authority Elected Members
Policy report and recommendations from the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) published 1st September 2021
http://ailg.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AILG-Maternity-Leave-Paper-2021-Final-Version.pdf
Women’s Caucuses
Women’s Caucuses are in the news following the (June 2021) announcement by Minister Peter Burke of funding to support women’s councillors establish caucuses. Here are the research reports by Claire McGing that explain what they are and why they are necessary.
Women_doing_politics_differently_-_establishing_caucus_with_women_councillors
Women Beyond the Dail Establishing Local Caucus for Women Councillors
May 2021- Guidelines for Campaign Photography
They say a picture paints a thousand words- never is this more true than in the case of campaign photography. Download our free SHE resource here to learn some simple tips about how to create an effective campaign image if you decide to run for election. 
Guidelines on Campaign Photography
May 2021- Facebook for Political Candidates
If you are considering running for election, Facebook is a great way to connect with your potential voters- learn more about advertising on Facebook, setting up a Business Manager Account, what works in terms of visual content, Facebook video and how to engage your audience. Click on the link to download our free SHE resource. 
Facebook for political candidates
Top Tips for Radio Interviews
Promoting your work or organisation on radio is a great way to reach your target audience. Latest JNLR listenership figures show that the number of people listening to news and current affairs type radio shows grew during the pandemic so doing an interview on your local or national radio station can sometimes be more effective than social media. Here are some basic points to remember if you secure a radio interview. Download the PDF here: 
radio tips
Creating a Social Media Strategy for Political Candidates
In order to gain voters’ trust, establish expertise and reach out to potential voters, every prospective political candidate needs to have a social media presence. It’s not simply a case of build it and they will come; without a clear strategy for your social media use, you will struggle to get engagement levels and increase your reach and awareness. Our free SHE resource will help you to: Clarify your social media goals; Audit your current social media status; Develop your content; Track your progress and Make changes as needed.
Download the PDF here: Creating a social media Strategy
January 2021 Report on Public Participation Networks
Research from Social Justice Ireland by Colette Bennett. Delivering Deliberative Democracy. Participation by the Public Participation Networks in Local Government Decision Making
Women in Politics and Community Representation
This is an ecellent study of the experience of women from Co. Mayo in community groups and local & national politics. It was written by Janine McGinn and Mary O’Connor (October 2020)Women-in-Politics-and-Community-Representation-Report-1
December 2020 Report on Gender Balance at work in the Civil service
2020 ESRI Report by Shannen Enright and Helen Russel
Democracy and Change
Democracy and Change. The 1920 Local Elections in Ireland is a beautiful, accessible and important read on the 1920 local elections. 42 women councillors were elected (6% of the total). Congratulation to the Local Government Archivists and Records Managers, and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government on this publication. LocalElections1920_English_Web
Research Reports on Local Government
Municipal Districts: A Review by Richard Boyle, Joanna O’Riordan, Laura Shannon, and Fergal O’Leary. Published in 2020. IPA Review of Municipal Districts
Democracy Works If You let It. Report commissioned by Forsa Trade Union in 2019. Written by Prof. Mary Murphy of Maynooth University. MorePowerReport
Here are links to the research reports on local government that are named in the 2020 Programme for Government – Our Shared Future ProgrammeforGovernment_Final_16.06.20
Cullen, P. and C. McGing (2019) Women Beyond the Dáil: More Women in Local Government, published by the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Women Beyond the Dail
Moorhead, S. (2020) Independent Review of the Role and Remuneration of Local Authority Elected Members, commissioned by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage independent_review_of_role_and_remuneration_of_local_authority_elected_members
Here is the policy report behind many of the local government reforms in 2014. Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government published in 2012 by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Putting People First 2012
LOCAL ELECTIONS 2019 – just 24% women are elected
Local election results underline case for gender quotas
Gender quotas are the jump start needed to increase female political representation
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/local-election-results-underline-case-for-gender-quotas-1.3910900
Women represent less than 6% of seats on some councils – how does your council fare on gender?
https://www.thejournal.ie/women-represent-less-than-1-of-seats-on-some-councils-4660423-May2019/
Female Representation in Politics in Ireland
https://irelandsdg.geohive.ie/app/female-representation-in-politics-in-ireland
No breakthrough for women in Local Elections – it’s time for gender quotas
https://www.nwci.ie/learn/article/no_breakthrough_for_women_in_local_elections_its_time_for_gender_quotas
Call to tackle ‘significant underrepresentation’ of women in senior council roles
https://www.thejournal.ie/women-in-local-government-4364807-Nov2018/
949
Councillors in Ireland
24
224 are Women
48
of councillors elected in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council were women. Rural counties like Mayo and Longford have less than 7%.
Making Our Councils More Open, Accessible and Representative – Experiences and observations of attending council meetings
See Her Elected, the award-winning Government funded project which aims to encourage women from rural areas to engage in local politics will be featured on RTE’s CountryWide show in the…
Anthonia Izekor wants to provide a mirror for young people from ethnic backgrounds to see themselves in decision making roles and now she hopes to run in the Local Elections…
Great feature in Council Reviews Summer edition on tackling online abuse for #WomenInPolitics as Michelle Maher, Programme Manager with #SeeHerElected talks about digital self care being built into the training & workshops available from #SHE as well…
‘Promoting Gender Equality and Diversity in Local Government’ seminar from See Her Elected & Clare County Council Women are often driven by a sense of social injustice as a pathway…
