Offaly female councillors discuss putting women in the picture

The female elected members of Offaly local authorities met last Monday in Áras An Chontae to mark International Women"s Day (March 8). In total eight seats within local authorities are held by women. Cllrs Connie Hannify, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Molly Buckley sit on Offaly County Council, Cllrs Sinead Dooley and Molly Buckley sit on Tullamore Town Council, while Cllr Ann Hynes-Spain sits on Birr Town Council and Cllr Patricia Brady on Edenderry Town Council. The meeting was held in response to a motion proposed by Cllr Molly Buckley at the February meeting of Offaly County Council asking the Council to recognise the role women play in the political, economic and social life of the county. Cllr Connie Hannify, who was the first woman elected to Offaly County Council in 1974, referred to a statement she had made to the European Committee of the Regions, saying that only 19% of Ireland"s Local and Regional Representatives are female while only 13% of deputies and senators are female. Ireland is ranked 87th in the world representation of women in National Parliament. The members reflected on the reasons why more women do not get involved in politics. Among the issues women have to consider in making their decision is the impact their involvement will have on their role in the family and any possible impact on their careers. It was agreed that changes can be made by employers and by Councils themselves to facilitate greater participation by women in local Government and that women can bring a different perspective to decision making and policy development.