“Women councillors need to come together and do so more often – to share our experience and wisdom and to collaborate and support cross-party working to focus on issues that affect women.”
This is the view of Mary Hoade, president of the Association of Irish Local Government, and a Fianna Fáil Galway county councillor. Cllr Hoade was speaking at the second AILG National Women’s Network Forum on Monday, which she chaired.
'wide-ranging discussion'
The theme for the online event was #wechoosetochallenge which saw a “wide-ranging and spirited panel discussion”, according to Cllr Hoade, from women councillors about how to improve women’s representation in local government, while also “celebrating our achievements as women”.
The meeting also heard Cllr Hoade confirm her commitment to setting up national and regional caucuses across the State: “The AILG is committed to hosting regional and national caucuses to further support the local caucuses currently being set up across the country and to offer that networking support to current and indeed future women councillors.’’
