More female TDs in 34th Dáil a significant step – Fine Gael Women’s Network

10 Fine Gael female TDs were welcomed to Leinster House this week – four women who were re-elected and six first time TDs.

This demonstrates the key role Fine Gael plays in increasing female political representation. The party ran 33 female candidates in this election, the highest number of female Fine Gael candidates in any general election.

Fine Gael’s work to increase the representation of women in national politics goes beyond running women on tickets in the election. The Party runs a programme of supports that women can access; including training and mentorship programmes to support women interested in entering politics to build knowledge, skills, political confidence and networks within the Party.

These programmes were implemented up to two years prior to the general election to ensure that new candidates were adequately prepared and supported to contest selection conventions and to run effective election campaigns.

The Fine Gael Women’s Network plays a key role in promoting and supporting female members of our party to take up leadership roles across the Party and to step into local and national politics.

The Women’s Network is proud of Fine Gael’s progress to date. More women are stepping up and being successful, and the general election results show that people want to see more women in the Dáil.

Fine Gael offers opportunities to promote women once they are elected, with all four of our re-elected female TDs having previously served as a Minister or Minister of State. Fine Gael gives women a voice at the decision-making table.

Rebecca Molloy, co-chair of the Fine Gael Women’s Network said: “As co-chairs of the women’s network, we are proud to lead a committed leadership team and broader membership, who all get behind our candidates. Our members have campaigned and supported our female candidates through their local election and general election campaigns this year. We recognise the importance of their work in contributing to positive election outcomes for women.”

Sarah Jane Wogan, co-chair of the Women’s Network concluded: “While we recognise the achievement of this General Election, we know there is more to do. We will build on this progress, working with all members of our Party and our Parliamentary Party to see even more women elected as Fine Gael TDs in the future.”