Sir, – Noel Whelan has recently argued (“Parties need binding quotas of female candidates now”, April 12th) that political parties “need to impose binding quotas, not just targets for female candidate selection”.

Yet analysing selection conventions from around the country, it is clear that we will be stuck very much in the 85:15 ration of male to female candidates in the coming local elections.

Fianna Fáil appears to be putting forward three, four, five or even six men in at least 40 areas, with no woman candidate: hence the lamentable figure of 16.7 per cent in terms of women standing.

Fine Gael, with an overall figure of 22.9 per cent of female candidates, proposes to stand three or more men in 34 areas. The result of this is that in places like Ballymahon, Ballinasloe and Drogheda, there will not be a woman in sight on the ballot paper from these parties.

Senator Averil Power recently pointed out that Fianna Fáil needs to address seriously its very low rate of female participation.

It must surely be time in 2014 for these parties to ensure that there is something approaching a gender balance of 50:50 in terms of candidate selection. Yours, etc,

DOLORES GIBBONS,

Marino Crescent,

Dublin 3