Failed candidate to challenge legal validity of gender quotas

Brian Mohan is taking his challenge to gender quotas to the High Court after failing to be selected as Fianna Fáil candidate in Dublin Central after party headquarters ruled that a woman be selected.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern had spoken out against gender quotas and in favour of Mr Mohan as a candidate prior to the party convention last month.

But Mary Fitzpatrick was selected as the unopposed candidate at the convention in Drumcondra after Fianna Fáil’s National Constituencies Committee ordered that a woman be selected in that constituency.

Mr Mohan is being represented by senior counsel and former tánaiste Michael McDowell, with Fahy Bambury McGeever listed as his solicitors.

Mr Mohan will argue that the law cannot be used to interfere with candidate selections and the Government cannot discriminate against those hoping to run by using a policy that dictates that specific types of people — in this case women — be put forward.

The Irish Examiner reported that Mr Justice Nicholas Kerins is to decide on whether the case, which Mr Mohan will take under Section 40 of the Electoral Amendment Act 199, will be heard or not.