Political gender quota to rise to 40% after election

A 30 per cent gender quota for political party candidates at the next general election will rise to 40 per cent for future national polls, the Cabinet agreed yesterday.

Under the Electoral Amendment Political Funding Bill 2011, which also restricts corporate donations, parties will face a 50 per cent cut in State funding unless the gender targets are met.

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan described the measures as modest but groundbreaking. “We’re deliberately setting out to improve the participation rate of women in politics. There is a difficulty there and I think it’s unhealthy for democracy,” he said.

“To qualify for all State funding . . . a qualifying political party will have to have at least 30 per cent women candidates and 30 per cent male candidates at the next general election, and this will rise to 40 per cent after seven years.”

Responding to some criticism of the measure, Mr Hogan he thought it was fair that if parties did not adhere to “certain rules of participation” they would suffer a penalty. Women were significantly underrepresented in political institutions, despite making up 50 per cent of the population, he said, and the proposal would allow political parties to field more women candidates. “It’s up to the people to decide if they want to elect them or not; the same goes for men,” he said.

Mr Hogan said the measures relating to corporate donations would take into account the recommendations of the Moriarty tribunal report. All donations would take place in an open and transparent manner and there would be “no question of an unhealthy relationship in relation to decision-making with business”, he said.

There will be a ban on the acceptance of donations of more than €200 by political parties from all sources, other than individuals, unless the donor body has been registered with the Standards in Public Office commission. The registration process includes the provision of the names and addresses of those responsible for the body.

The maximum amount that can be accepted by a political party will be reduced from €6,348.69 to €2,500 and from €2,539.48 to €1,000 by an individual. There will be a reduction in the thresholds at which donations must be declared to the commission from €5,078.95 to €1,500 by a political party and from €634.87 to €600 by an individual. There will also be a reduction in the threshold, from €5,078 to €200, above which companies, trade unions and some other organisations must report on political donations in their annual accounts.

Mr Hogan said he would have preferred an outright ban on corporate donations but had been advised by the Attorney General there could be constitutional issues in relation to freedom of expression. Registered political parties will have to prepare independently audited accounts to be submitted annually to the commission for publication “in a timely and accessible way”.

The format of the accounts will be based on guidelines to be prepared by the commission, in consultation with political parties, and approved by Mr Hogan.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused the Government of bringing forward proposals on corporate donations that were “significantly weaker” than those his party had proposed.

“While this proposal will move the situation on, it does not go far enough and represents an opportunity wasted,” Mr Martin said.

He said the Coalition had “abandoned” its commitment to a complete ban on corporate donations.