Bridin Twist (48)

Labour

Clare

AFTER 20 years in the women's movement, including three years as national president of the ICA, membership of the Irish Commission on the Family and the EU Economic and Social Committee, I decided to take my own advice and bring my experience into the political arena. I joined Labour last year because it deals with the social issues that most concern me, such as the need for a refuge centre for battered wives in Ennis and the need for more family mediation services countrywide.

I think the female Ministers in this Government have done really well, and Mary Robinson has brought in a great pride in her own gender. I think this will be a really interesting election because there is a huge floating voter factor. I'm a strong candidate and the fight is on for my seat, so much so that there is a smear campaign going on against me. I get anonymous phone calls about how my past is going to be investigated and it was wrongly reported in the press that I crossed a Dunnes Stores picket line in 1995. This was very insulting, as Labour is based on the rights of workers and the union movement. My 94 year old father a strong union man all his life - was very upset. It's just a strategy to unnerve me and I'm well able to cope with the pressure.

Mairead Foley (38)

Progressive Democrats

Dublin North-East

I've been a civil servant, mostly in the Department of Social Welfare, for the best part of 20 years. I gave up my job to run for this election. It was a long and carefully thought out decision, made easier by the fact that I'm single so I don't have to take other people into account. I've been surrounded by security for most of my life. I wanted to be dropped in the ocean to see if I could swim. I wanted to be able to look back and feel that my life was worth something.

A lot of people think of the PDs as being Thatcherite but when I talked to Mary Harney I found her very open to my social views. I want to tackle long term unemployment and to see programmes being set up in disadvantaged areas for children to encourage their positive qualities. The PDs is a young political party with less baggage than the others.

I have had a social welfare advice slot on Live at 3 for the last three years. People tend to recognise me from that. They say: "Oh it's good to see a woman." They all recognise Mary Harney's name too as that of a woman they can trust. There is a feeling that women are more practical and get things done.

Deirdre Clune (37)

Fine Gael

Cork SouthCentral

I don't know if it's an advantage to be Peter Barry's daughter. Some people like it and I suppose the pedigree is there it's in my blood. I've been involved in politics for years, from my father's career to becoming a branch officer and then constituency officer.

I'm the only woman candidate in my constituency, which is unusual for Cork SouthCentral. Politics is a maledominated area, but I'm a civil engineer with four sons so I'm used to that.

Women are great at a local level but they don't seem to take it further. Let's not look to the men; let's do it ourselves. I'm confident I can pull this off. I'll do well on transfers. I think there's a swing towards women candidates: you can see it in Britain with all the young Labour women.

My priorities are education for all; and the need to get tough on litter. Health services should be more woman friendly. In Cork we don't even have a woman obstetrician for public patients.

Helen Lehart (43)

Democratic Left

Dublin North Central

I do have a life - it won't devastate me if I don't get in. I've been working in the community for 15 years and in politics for five, but I'm not a total addict.

I used to be a member of the Democratic Socialist Party and when it folded I joined DL because I wanted to be involved in left wing politics. It hadn't crossed my mind to stand for election. I have a husband and two children. I wasn't sure if you could survive in politics and still have time for family, friends and relaxation. It is certainly impossible at election time but I think otherwise there is a manic quality about politics that is unnecessary. The hours the Dail sits need to be changed, not just for women with families but for everyone, particularly the rural TDs.

If I'm elected I have a 10 point plan for the north side that I want to implement by creating a task force, funded by 10 per cent of my salary. It includes the need for more resources for primary schools and adult education; and local drugs treatment centres and community play groups. Women have the patience to see things through - I'm used to that. It took five years to set up the Northside Cultural Centre.

Ann Crowley

(prefers not to give her age) Green

Mayo

I want to give the voters an alternative. It's the first time a Green candidate has stood in this constituency and all the other candidates are either FG or FF. Democracy means a lot to me: I've worked in countries such as Egypt and Jordan which only pay lip service to the idea of democracy and choice.

Mary Robinson is from Mayo but she's seen as being exceptional on the political scene. Women in Mayo feel the six male TDs don't represent them. They feel excluded. There are married women with children who are stuck at home in isolated rural areas with no access to transport, often living with in laws.

It has been horrifying to see my face stuck up on lampposts. People remark more about how a woman looks, so we are bound to feel more self conscious about this sort of thing than men. My partner, who is also a member of the Green Party, has been out putting up posters.

I'm finding a widespread acceptance for the Green guaranteed income policy. A lot of people here are on social welfare or farmers' dole, and there is still the problem of emigration. I also feel strongly that the seas are being overfished.

Margaret Cox (33)

Fianna Fail

Galway West

My father, Tom Cox, died two years ago and I was coopted on to Galway Corporation to take his place. Before that I had never really thought about politics. I'm the only woman candidate in this constituency and I'd hate to see it being represented by five men, good bad or indifferent.

I am MD of my own business, which is a recruitment agency, a training company and a computer company in Galway city. My husband is an engineer. We're both working full time on my campaign. I have two young sons and they are being looked after by my usual babysitter during the day and by my friends and aunt in the evenings. It is irritating to be asked about this, though you wouldn't ask a male candidate about his babysitting arrangements.

I am very concerned about the fact that the Western Health Board area has more older patients and more public patients than the east but is underfunded. I'm not happy with the sewage treatment plant proposed for Mutton Island either. It will mar the beauty of the bay which is a tourist attraction. Plus, it should be a tertiary treatment plant, not a secondary one.