![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/martin.png\")
Fianna F\u00e1il is in a stronger position regarding gender balance than at the last election, despite only just meeting the quota, leader Miche\u00e1l Martin has said.<\/p>\nFianna F\u00e1il is in a stronger position regarding gender balance than at the last election, despite only just meeting the quota, leader Miche\u00e1l Martin has said.<\/p>\n
The party is fielding 82 candidates across the 40 constituencies in Ireland, 26 are women and 56 are men.<\/p>\n
When asked on Wednesday about gender parity on his tickets, Mr Martin hesitated before answering: \u201cWe\u2019re about 31, we\u2019re just short of 31%, 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are national quotas, and obviously it depends on local circumstances in terms of the candidate\u2019s election. We\u2019ve a strong team of women on this occasion, much stronger than 2016, which is progress, 30.7% now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt varies, from constituency to constituency, so it\u2019s a stronger team than the last time.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the 2016 election the party ran 77 candidates and 22 were female \u2013 just over 28%. Of the 44 candidates elected, six were women.<\/p>\n
When asked what the party was doing to encourage more women to run for elected office, Mr Martin said the party offered seminars and support with leafleting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn all levels of the party we work with people, we do everything we can to encourage and support women to run in local or general elections,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good for us, we can attract diverse, and people who would not normally be in the political, erm, you know, in the political thing, coming into the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hold seminars and we work and encourage and try and incentivize people to take part, because it can be a daunting prospect for people, to compete in local and general elections, and they do need support in terms of literature and leafleting, and are given assurances that that support is forthcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il are fielding two female candidates in Kerry, Kildare South and Tipperary constituencies.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael, Fianna F\u00e1il and Labour have managed to nominate just enough female candidates in this election to guarantee state funding.<\/p>\n
Under current Irish legislation, funding to parties will be halved unless 30% of their candidates in the General Election are women.<\/p>\n