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For the second election in a row, just one female TD, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, will be elected across the entirety of Cork city and county.
While a 40% candidate gender quota had been introduced ahead of last Friday’s election, the percentage of women TDs elected to the incoming Dáil is expected to increase by just 2% when all votes are counted.
The poll has seen a number of high-profile representatives lose their seats including Green Party Minister Catherine Martin in Dublin Rathdown and Fianna Fáil junior minister Anne Rabbitte in Galway East.
In total 44 women are set to become TDs, which would represent 25% of the Dáil. This is a net gain of seven women, however, when the increase of 14 TDs overall is factored in, it means that the percentage share is only marginally up from the 23% share women had in the last Dáil.
“The gender quota for political parties — introduced to ensure parties select more women candidates — has wedged the door open, but its potential has not yet been fully realised,” said Women for Election CEO Brian Sheehan.
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“If we are serious about achieving equal representation for women in political life, further work is necessary. We need to look at structural barriers and need a detailed review of how the quota has operated in this election, including how party selection processes — including timing and access to nominations — have helped or hindered women candidates.”
However, there are some positives to be taken from this election as more women will walk through the gates of Leinster House than after any other election, including party leaders Ivana Bacik, Mary Lou McDonald and Ms Cairns.
“Three women led their parties in this election and across the country many women have topped or come near the top of the poll in their constituencies. From our estimates, women candidates have secured almost 32% of first-preference votes, equivalent to 70 quotas,” said Mr Sheehan.
Among the female poll toppers are Louise O’Reilly, Mairead Farrell and Rose Conway Walsh all of Sinn Féin, along with Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee and Independents Carol Nolan and Verona Murphy.
Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill also topped the poll in Dún Laoghaire to become the first TD to be elected across the county.
Ms Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day, has previously pointed to the fact that being the sole female representative across multiple constituencies in Cork has meant that voters, especially women, from outside her catchment area often seek her out when they want to raise issues.
“I’d like to see more women in politics 100%, at a local level, at national level, at every level,” she told the Irish Examiner in March 2023, after becoming party leader.
“Not having to be the sole voice of women in Cork in the Dáil, that might be nice,” she added.
The Social Democrats leader will have to wait at least another Dáil term to see that come to pass.
