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THE GOVERNMENT HAS been heavily criticised over the low number of women appointed to ministerial positions in government.
Last week, just three women were among the 15 senior ministers announced. Today, just six were included among the 23 junior ministries.
In total, just 24% of the 38 positions are held by women – down from 29% in the outgoing government which had 10 women in ministerial positions.
After today’s announcement, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach was asked by reporters if the government has a problem with women?
“Of course it doesn’t,” he replied.
He went to say that every effort was made to set gender balance, stating that of the seven Fianna Fáil women elected as TDs, four are now ministers.
“It’s more than just about gender, you have to look at the workload involved and the suitability for the role,” he said.
Factors such as geography, experience, suitability are taken into account, he added, who also stated that incumbency is an issue to be considered.
He stated that there is a strong possibility if there were more female TDs elected, there would be more women in Cabinet.
Women for Election said this evening that the Government has failed its second test on gender equality by not increasing the number of women appointed as ministers of state.
“The Government took these decisions despite the widespread negative reaction to and concern about the reduction of women ministers in Cabinet announced last week,” Aldagh McDonogh, chair of Women for Election said.
McDonogh said there are “serious questions” to ask of this Government which is “continuing to exclude women’s voices, expertise and lived experience from Government decision-making levels.”
“It is vital for the health of our society, our economy and our democracy that women’s voices, expertise and lived experience are included at the tables where decisions are made that affect every person in Ireland.
“As women, we shouldn’t have to keep asking for a place at the table. We expect better from our political leaders,” McDonogh added.
A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said today that Fine Gael has been at the forefront of “driving equality”, but said Harris acknowledges that “more needs to be done” to reach gender equality.
He stated that Fine Gael has 10 female TDs elected out of 48 and 40% are ministers (four), pointing out that Emer Currie is in a position as assistant government chief whip.
Reacting to the appointments on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Labour TD for Louth Ged Nash asked: “What has this Government got against women? It is 2025 not 1955.”
With reporting by Christina Finn
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Yes it does, it has McEntee and Foley in it. God help us.
@Dan Murphy: Two hard workers well able for the bullies in opposition
@Tim Brennan: hard workers? Wow ok
@Dan Murphy: definitely mc entee is an absolute joke seen her being questioned and she hadn’t a clue how to even answer let alone know the information to which she was minister for.
@Dan Murphy: I’m still trying to get my head around Jennifer Carroll McNeil being made minister for health. The mind boggles as to who thought that was a good idea
@Ger Whelan: Hugo!!
@Darran Macken: you know some people can never give credit to women for going about their business effectively without needing to shout and roar across the Dail chamber to get their business done. These two women have been subjected to vile comments but they did their jobs and no can ever say they but they had the guts and bravery to put themselves up for election and both of them got elected so get off the cross.
@Paddy C: She was very good in the Students Union debating society!
@Tim Brennan: “bravery to put themselves forward” Yea right Tim. McEntee was groomed for political office and waltzed into her father’s seat(which became vacant upon his death)with the blessing of FG leader Enda Kenny and was subsequently singled out for preferment her entire political existence. Give me a flippin break
@Dan Murphy: just don’t throw Mary Lou into the mix
@Darth O’Leary: joyous Stand for election get elected well done Helen no one was forced to vote for her
A great non-issue to get bogged down in.
People have a choice who to vote for, the people choice the numbers not the government, merit of popular opinion for me please.
@Darran Macken: Correct, The small number that voted, voted for the continued downward spiral of Ireland. Its almost job done at this point.
@Darran Macken: A larger number of women went up for election is spite of slagging and whining against them. The voters hesitated to vote for them probably out of mercy that women should be spared the harassment from ……. you know who.
@Harry Paisley: Ye they hate women so much that there’s a woman in charge of sf in N.Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Harry you plonker.
What a nonsense.
Give the jobs to the best candidate ! Like any employer would ffs
I don’t hear any outcry at gender imbalance in bin collection
@paulinlavally@gmail.com: Or in the ESB during storms.
Elect enough ladies first then more can be in Government but women choose to vote men
If we go down the route that certain genders etc have to be catered for then democracy is dead. Surely the best person for the job. My manager is female, and she is excellent at her job. Some day, with hard work and persistence, I would like to be just as good as she is. But I would not like it if she were chosen because she was female. She was chosen because she is bloody good. Better then some males I’ve worked to.
Driver theory couple will be sentenced by “judge” martin nolan tomorrow. God! I wonder what the outcome will be? 1 year suspended sentence? 7? 22 years?? It’ll serve em right.
@Patrice Ahern: he sentenced a pensioner for canibas recently, let a pedophile walk free 3 last month, insanity.
@Patrice Ahern: and there is no link between immigration and crime, so the lefties say
@Darran Macken: He gave suspended sentence to city council worker as drug mule.
Mc Entee has a lot to answer for
…out of her depth, so Govt. Slow to add any more incapable female ministers… she screwed up everything for all the other women
Most nurses are women. Most
labourers, soldiers, rubbish collectors, bomb disposal experts and roofers are men.
Most teachers are women. Most carers are women.
Gender imbalances all over the place.
@Padraic O’ Sullivan: And even though only 10% of primary teachers are male, we see 35% of Principal Teachers are male. And that is indicative of the overall societal issue. Society wants women kept ‘in their place’.
@Harry Paisley: It proves that if you put an incompetent man against a competent women (who has noone to pull strings for her), the man wins every time. Cushy boys club. Look at the number of the male ministers that were appointed that have had questionable dealings in the past or have been plain incapable in their former briefs. But yes they were all appointed on ability. Sure!
@Mindful Muinteoir: so we need more men in teaching and more men as principals. Got it. Thanks!
Good god DEI is a failed concept that’s been proven to be a failure.
Are we to assume then that there is in fact only two genders?
@Damien Leahy: maybe we need a Trans Male Chef Whip and a Trans Female Health minister ??
@Laurence Mulvihill: Would the female Chief Whip be called Madam Whiplash?
Strange that the government insisted that the FAI implement a gender balance on the board of the FAI and yet fail to implement the same for the cabinet!!
RULES FOR THEE ARE NOT FOR ME syndrome!!!
If they want gender balance then say how many genders there are and define what a “Woman” is !!
Did Mary Loo ask any of them their pronouns before she/he shouted her/he mouth off?
Where’s all the female esb workers , that’s a terrible imbalance going on at the moment
maybe that’s enough of the BS parity.
Yes they never stop complaining
Ladies vote ladies
Of course they do. They arent supporting women at the bottom so then there is limited opportunity to promote women at the top. 50% of our population is female. Of course people should be promoted on their ability but you have to foster that. Women are good for more than making the tea.
@Harry Paisley: Very sweeping statement there Harry. The inventor of computer programming was a woman. She wasnt an outlier. Women just ALSO have empathy.
@Harry Paisley: Harry sweetheart…. who hurt you?
Looks like they are holding hands in the photo.
I am sure it does no5. I work in a goverment office which there are 14 women and only 3 lads.
Mick the liar.
The wokest government ever. They simply can’t find enough women who will destroy the country further
These independent groups are mostly made up of disenfranchised mediocre middle aged white men trying to find a back door into power. Efforts on gender balance by parties are totally negated by agreeing to bring these groups into government. Shame on FFG. Shows that they are not serious on gender balance or encouraging any kind of representation of our society.
Is it not the best people for the job.Does not matter if they are male or female
have your say