Fine Gael Women’s Network delivering election candidates through mentorship

23 out of 26 women who have completed a Fine Gael mentoring programme have been selected by the party to run in the upcoming Local Elections in June, bringing the party’s current total of women candidates to 84.

The Fine Gael Women’s Network will hold a graduation ceremony for their Aspiring Candidate Workshop today (Saturday), a mentorship programme designed to support women with political aspirations. The event will celebrate the dedication and achievements of the 15 women who have successfully completed the programme.

The course ran two intakes in 2023 and has enjoyed a 100% completion rate.

Just 226 (24%) women candidates were elected to local councils in 2019 and currently, just 22.5% of TDs and Senators in Dáil Éireann are women.

The course was designed by Fine Gael Women’s Network leader, Lavinia Duggan and Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Officer, Deirdre Campbell, to address the key barriers to women’s participation in politics ahead of the 2024 local elections.

“Our programme supports women to be confident and comfortable in the world of politics. We bring them on a personal journey exploring their true self, empowering them to discover their transferable skills, while supporting them to be effective in their roles as they enter political life,” Lavinia Duggan explained.

“For the majority of women completing the programme, this will be their first time to run in an election. Their wide-ranging experience and diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives on local and national issues,” she added.

Supriya Singh (Local Election Candidate Dublin Bay North), who completed the course, said: “This mentorship programme has made me a stronger person. I understand my weaknesses and strengths more clearly now. I have worked on my doubts, fears, and anxiety and now feel extremely positive about what I want to achieve.”

Ejiro O’Hare Stratton (Local Election Candidate Drogheda) added: “I now have new perspectives on my values, being authentic and the transformative power of kindness and political leadership.”

“The course similarly acknowledges that progress is not always linear and provides supports for women who may not be successful in their election outcome to remain confident in their ability and resolve. As we learned from Frances Fitzgerald MEP, who led a session dealing with personal agility, resilience and change, ‘challenges bring resilience’, and her insights proved hugely inspirational for all participants,” concluded Lavinia Duggan.