Diversity in Local Government

Cork County Council has launched a campaign to highlight the critical role diversity and inclusion have to play in local government. As part of this campaign, the Council are calling on women, people of all backgrounds and minority groups throughout Cork County to consider stepping into the ring to encourage, support and facilitate greater representation in local politics to reflect the diversity that exists in our society.

The drive for diversity in local government is being championed by our own current female Mayor of

the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, who is the third woman to hold the role in 100 years. Having achieved a senior leadership role in Irish local government, Cllr Linehan Foley hopes to inspire that ambition in others.

While the 2019 Local Elections resulted in the highest proportion of female Councillors - 226 nationally; representation is still well below par at just 24% of the overall number of Councillors.

Mayor Linehan Foley explained,

“In recent years, we have seen considerable improvements across the board, but have yet not fully reached the 2019 target of a 30% proportion of women candidates. In our region we have been faring slightly better than others - in the south west constituency, 22.7% of seats were taken by women in the 2019 local elections. But we must make greater strides and it is important that we all play our part.

Central to the goal of building and maintaining a sustainable democracy is ensuring the active participation of women and representation of all groups across the board, whether in politics, business or education. This is not just a number to be achieved, it’s a standard to reach and uphold, to properly reflect the needs of our society. There are so many opportunities for women, and minorities of all backgrounds, to get involved in political life, and as a county, we have a wealth of education, ideas, and energy that needs to be harnessed for the betterment of all our communities.”

As part of the campaign initiative, Cork County Council has launched a video featuring the insights of

the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, Cllr. John Paul O’Shea, Cllr. Danielle Twomey, Cllr. Katie Murphy, Cllr. Gobnait Moynihan and Cllr. Patrick Gerard Murphy.  In the video, Councillors share their stories about how they became involved in politics, what they have gained from community and personal perspectives and the importance of increased diversity in local government. 

Mayor Linehan Foley concluded

“I want this campaign to inspire people to take a step towards local politics. Each of us has the power to influence change – we need to hear the voices of those that are under- represented to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion. The best time to do this was 20 years ago, the next best time is now!”

To view the campaign, join Cork County Council on social media or visit www.corkcoco.ie

Feachtas Nua ar son na hÉagsúlachta Feabhsaithe sa Rialtas Áitiúil

Tá feachtas seolta ag Comhairle Contae Chorcaí chun aird a tharraingt ar an ról ríthábhachtach atá ag éagsúlacht agus ionchuimsiú sa rialtas áitiúil. Mar chuid den fheachtas seo, tá an Chomhairle ag iarraidh ar mhná, ar dhaoine de gach cúlra agus ar ghrúpaí mionlaigh ar fud Chontae Chorcaí smaoineamh ar pháirt níos mó a ghlacadh sa pholaitíocht áitiúil, ag tacú, ag éascú agus ag déanamh ionadaíocht don éagsúlacht atá inár sochaí.

Tá an feachtas ar son na héagsúlachta sa rialtas áitiúil á chur chun cinn ag ár Méara reatha i gContae Chorcaí, an Comhairleoir Mary Linehan Foley, atá ar an tríú bean a bhfuil an ról aici i gceann 100 bliain. Tar éis ról ceannaireachta sinsearach a bhaint amach aici i rialtas áitiúil na hÉireann, tá súil ag an gComhairleoir Linehan Foley an uaillmhian sin a spreagadh i ndaoine eile.

Cé go raibh an líon is airde de mhná ina gComhairleoirí mar thoradh ar Thoghcháin Áitiúla 2019 - 226 go náisiúnta; tá an ionadaíocht fós i bhfad níos ísle ná ba cheart, ag 24% de líon iomlán na gComhairleoirí.

Mhínigh an Méara Linehan Foley,

“Le blianta beaga anuas, tá feabhsuithe suntasacha feicthe againn i gcoitinne, ach níl sprioc 2019- de chion 30% d’iarrthóirí mná- bainte amach againn go fóill. Inár réigiún táimid ag dul i bhfad níos fearr ná roinnt áiteanna eile i dtoghcheantar an iardheiscirt.Thóg mná 22.7% de na suíocháin i dtoghcháin áitiúla 2019. Ach caithfimid dul chun cinn níos mó a dhéanamh agus tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanfaimis go léir ár gcuid féin.

Cuid lárnach den aidhm daonlathas inbhuanaithe a thógáil agus a chothabháil is ea rannpháirtíocht ghníomhach na mban agus dar ndóigh ionadaíocht gach grúpa ar fud an domhain a chinntiú, cibé acu sa pholaitíocht, sa ghnó nó san oideachas. Ní uimhreacha amháin atá le baint amach againn. Tá caighdeán le baint amach againn chomh maith agus seasamh leis, chun riachtanais ár sochaí a léiriú i gceart agus ionadaíocht cheart a dhéanamh. Tá an oiread sin deiseanna ann do mhná, agus do mhionlaigh de gach cúlra, a bheith páirteach sa saol polaitiúil, agus mar chontae, tá  oideachas, smaointe agus fuinnimh fhairsing againn nach mór a thapú chun ár bpobail uile a fheabhsú. "

Mar chuid den tionscnamh feachtais, tá físeán seolta ag Comhairle Contae Chorcaí ina bhfuil léargas Mhéara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Mary Linehan Foley, An Clr. John Paul O’Shea, An Clr. Danielle Twomey, An Clr. Katie Murphy, An Clr. Gobnait Moynihan agus an Clr. Patrick Gerard Murphy. San fhíseán, roinneann Comhairleoirí a gcuid scéalta fén gcaoi ar ghlac siad páirt sa pholaitíocht, an méid a ghnóthaigh siad ó pheirspictíochtaí pobail agus pearsanta, agus an tábhacht a bhaineann le héagsúlacht mhéadaithe sa rialtas áitiúil.

Dúirt an Méara Linehan Foley

“Is mian liom go spreagfaidh an feachtas seo daoine chun céim a thógaint i dtreo na polaitíochta áitiúla. Tá sé de chumhacht ag gach duine againn tionchar a bheith againn ar athrú - caithfimid guthanna na ndaoine sin a bhfuil fé ghannionadaíocht acu a chloisint chun comhionannas, éagsúlacht agus ionchuimsiú a chinntiú. Ba é 20 bliain ó shin an t-am is fearr chun é seo a dhéanamh, is é anois an chéad uair eile! "

Chun an feachtas a fheiscint, téir go cuntais Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí ar na meáin shóisialta nó tabhair cuairt ar www.corkcoco.ie