With plans for a 40% quota of females in the next general election, Maria held a panel discussion on women in politics.

To flesh out a number of issues she was joined by Waterford Councillors Mary Roche (Independent) Cristíona Kiely (Green Party), and Waterford-based member of the Fianna Fail National Executive Stephanie Keating.

Of the 32 elected members to Waterford County Council, just four are women, giving a 13% representation, with a national average of 25%.

Of the four Waterford seats available in General Election 2020, one woman was returned.

The national non-partisan organisation Women for Election, says it aims to "identify, support and encourage at least 1,000 women to contest the next local elections in 2024, including a significant increase in the number of women on election tickets across Waterford electoral areas."

This would mean a nearly two fold increase in the number of women who contested the 2019 local elections nationally.

Speaking on Déise Today, Cristíona Kiely said she didn't see the merit of quotas until recently, but now she thinks they're a good idea, saying "if the women aren't there, we can't vote for them.  It's about getting the candidates on the ballot paper."

Also among the discussions this morning were why more women don't vote for women, the deterrent of social media abuse, and how women involved in the community could use that experience in politics.

Have a listen to the panel discussion with Maria on Déise Today, through the link in this podcast.

For all Déise podcasts, click here.