Chairperson and Vice Chair elected at inaugural meeting of Women’s Caucus

The inaugural meeting of Fingal County Council’s Women’s Caucus took place in Newbridge house today, July 29, 2021. At the meeting Cllr Karen Power and Cllr Joan Hopkins were elected as Chairperson and Vice- Chair respectively.

After chairing the first meeting, the Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh, said: “The number of women councillors is on the rise and we hope that the work of the Women’s Caucus will inspire more women across the county to get involved in local politics and run for election because everyone benefits from gender balance and equality.”

The Women’s Caucus envisions the attainment of gender equality among elected members of Fingal County Council and for constituents. It believes that everyone benefits from gender equality. The Caucus aims to have eight meetings per annum.

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “It’s wonderful to be here today surrounded by the inspiring women who make up Fingal County Council’s First Women’s Caucus. Fingal County Council were delighted to facilitate the setting up of the Women’s Caucus and I look forward to seeing what can be achieved by such a motivated group.”

The mission of the Women’s Caucus is to bring together women and gender minority representatives from all parties and none. It aims to highlight the benefits of collegiality, create a productive and successful environment that supports everyone to achieve common goals, to foster an environment of mutual respect and to create equality for the benefit of all.

The Caucus also aims to develop and advocate for policy and other initiatives that address issues affecting women and their families, promote and support women’s participation in politics, nationally and locally and to advance the agreed agenda of the Women’s Caucus within political parties, committee work and other spheres of influence.

The first Chairperson for the Women’s Caucus, Cllr Karen Power said: “I am delighted to be voted into the position of Chairperson and feel truly honoured to act as the spokesperson for the Caucus.”

The role of the chairperson of the Women’s Caucus is to chair meetings, to act as a spokesperson, to liaise with the council on Caucus matters including the preparation of an annual report and to liaise with external organisations on Caucus matters. A new chairperson will be elected annually.

The newly elected Vice-Chair for the Women’s Caucus, Cllr Joan Hopkins said: “I am honoured to take on this new and exciting role as vice-chair for the Women’s Caucus, I will do my very best to support Cllr Karen Power in ensuring the Caucus achieves what it has set out to.”

Cllr Pamela Conroy, Cllr Tania Doyle, Cllr Brigid Manton, Cllr Mary McCamley, Cllr Siobhan Shovlin and Cllr Natalie Treacy were delighted to be in attendance for such an exciting event. Cllr Ann Graves, Cllr Breda Hanaphy, Cllr Grainne Maguire, Cllr Punam Rane and Cllr Aoibhinn Tormey unfortunately could not attend but sent their apologies.