Performance of indicator:

The percentage of members who are female has increased over the last five Dáils. The percentage that was female in the 28^th Dáil (1997) was 12%. This has increased to 21% in the 32^nd Dáil (2016).

Justification of indicator:

Men and women are equally represented in the population and, thereby should be equally represented in the democratic decision-making process. Equal representation allows an environment to exist where issues that affect both men and women can be raised, discussed, and ultimately addressed. As the highest legislative body in Ireland, many important decisions are made in Dáil Éireann and thus the percentage of females within it has been selected as the indicator for female representation.

Performance of indicator:

The consistent poverty rate measure the percentage of people who are defined as being at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation (experiencing two or more types of deprivation). The rate in 2011 was 6.9% and rose to 9.1% in 2013. The rate in 2015 was 8.7%, a fall from the previous year when it was 8.8%.

Justification of indicator:

The consistent poverty measure looks at those persons who are defined as being at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation (experiencing two or more types of deprivation identified in the Survey of Income and Living Conditions). Measuring the percentage of individuals who are living in consistent poverty is important due to the negative impact that poverty has on the individual. It can lead to lower health levels, lower educational attainment, and lower levels of self-esteem. With constrained economic resources, it is likely that material living conditions, which also contribute to well-being, will also suffer.

Performance of indicator:

Equality of income distribution is the relationship between cumulative shares of the population (ranked according to the level of income from lowest to highest) and the cumulative share of total income received by them, i.e. the Lorenz Curve. A figure of 100% would indicate perfect inequality, and similarly, a figure of 0% would indicate perfect equality. The Gini coefficient for Ireland in 2015 was 30.8%, a fall from 32.0% in 2014.

Justification of indicator:

The equality in the distribution of income is measured by the Gini Coefficient. Equality of income distribution is an important measure for societal well-being, and higher levels of equality are considered good for society.^[1]

[1] Further information on the Gini Coefficient can be found here.

Performance of indicator:

The percentage of persons aged 18 years and older who have experienced any kind of discrimination has remained constant, at 12%.

Justification of indicator:

Low levels of discrimination indicate a fair and just society, and thus maintaining low levels is an important societal goal.

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