Documentary on One: Sandbags not Handbags? Explores the Impact of the Gender Quota on Two Longford-Wesmeath Candidates in GE16
Documentary on One: Sandbags not Handbags? Explores the Impact of the Gender Quota on Two Longford-Wesmeath Candidates in GE16
This Saturday 5 March at 2pm, a brand new Documentary on One - Sandbags not Handbags? - goes behind the scenes of General Election 2016 with two Longford-Westmeath candidates: Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) and Connie Gerety-Quinn (Fianna F il).
The constituency of Longford-Westmeath made headlines before General Election 2016 for two reasons: floods and the gender quota.
A four seat constituency, predictions were that three of the seats were a certainty - for three male candidates. Two female candidates, Gabrielle McFadden (FG) and Connie Gerety-Quinn (FF), were competing for the final seat.
In Sandbags not Handbags?, the Documentary on One team follows Gabrielle and Connie throughout the first ever general election that has imposed a minimum 30% quota on female candidates being put forward by political parties.
Whilst McFadden (FG) was a sitting TD (taking over for her sister Nicky), Connie Gerety-Quinn got on the Fianna F il ticket in this constituency due to the gender quota.
As a result, two male would-be candidates lost out, creating ructions at the Fianna F il selection convention. The row spilled onto the airwaves with one of the disappointed men telling RT , "If the stiletto was on the other foot there would be people coming down on buses from Dublin and marching on the streets of Longford."
As Gabrielle and Connie run in their first ever general election, we join them as they seek out votes door-to-door, work with their campaign teams and meet early morning commuters.
These candidates also receive abuse from angry voters, host their party leaders and participate in local debates.
Despite Ireland placing 25th out of 28 countries in the EU for female representatives in parliament, neither Gabrielle McFadden nor Connie Gerety-Quinn agree with the new gender quota. They believe only the best candidates should face election, irrespective of gender.
So, what had General Election 2016 in store for these two women - and was the gender quota a negative or positive influence in their political fortunes?
Documentary on One: Sandbags not Handbags? will be available online atwww.rte.ie/doconone from 1pm on Friday 4 March and broadcast on RT Radio 1 at 2pm on Saturday 5 March.
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Documentary on One: Sandbags not Handbags? Explores the Impact of the Gender Quota on Two Longford-Wesmeath Candidates in GE16
