The politics of women's representation in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

This paper considers the subject of women’s political presence in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Dáil from three perspectives—numerical presence, women representing women and gendered political institutions. It points to the relative underrepresentation of women in parliament in Ireland across time and in comparison with other parliaments today. It then asks whether women “act for” women when holding legislative office, and concludes with a qualified “yes”. Finally, it suggests that legislative assemblies, north and south, are more likely to favour masculine norms, values and practices, making it more difficult for women to challenge the culture of parliamentary life.

This is the revised text of the twelfth annual John Henry Whyte Memorial Lecture presented at University College Dublin on 22 November 2001.