Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
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
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Imagine how much it would hurt these gangs if you were to legalise cannabis?
Imagine how you would hurt these gangs if you were to put them into prison!
This is window dressing and smells like a PR stunt. Why target soft drugs when the country is over run with much more soul destroying drugs.
Petty hash dealers are not problem.
Hope the keep the pressure up on these vile s(umbags, make it impossible to operate.
30kgs of cannabis would hardly be handled by petty hash dealers.
The big dangerous gangs are dealing with these volumes of cannabis. I completely agree that legalising it is the only way to really hurt these people
Tweety it could be 300 tons of a drug that does very little harm verse drugs that destroys people, families, children born addicted and creating generations of zombies.
Let’s tackle the drugs that do damage first.
I think the point is that removing this as a revenue source or an entry into illegal drugs would have a knock-on effect negating the harder drugs.
If you could grow it legally / buy it at the chemist you won’t end up in debt to some gangster and forced to get into crime / become tempted to try other things
Not sure just legalisation would do the job, still would require Garda resources . Where it is legal there are still huge criminal profits from selling it underground. Sure don’t we have gangs making a mint from illegal cigarettes and taking up Garda resources; and they are legal.
While it’s great to see the Gardai making these seizures and hurt organised crime, it would be far more effective to legalize cannabis.
Sean of course it would look at the resources it would release from the guards, reduce the criminal element, reduce gang land murder, increase tax revenue, help regulate the drug, having cannabis that is not laced with dangerous products when sold trough proper channels, we could go on.
It is so wildly used I smell it in the streets in a very casual way, so saying legalisation cause an huge increase in use, we are beyond that point
They are doing alot of big busts lately. Keep up the good work
Aww man. That’s a lot of people’s weekends ruined!! Legalise.
Hardly ruined. Might just have to use a different dealer further away. More like slightly inconvenienced.
Just legalise it already… The country who started the war on drugs “The US of A” has at least 12 states where it’s legal now. Billions raised in taxes which funds health care.
Waste.
I’m sure the Gardai will dispose of the haul in the appropriate manner
There hoes any hope of twinning with north korea. Reputation ruined. No one likes a drugs scandal.
Cigarettes are legal and that’s a huge black market huge for certain criminals. Not that simple I think.
Only because of the severe tax on them.
The point is that it’s a huge source of income for the criminals.
If it was legal, the margins wouldn’t be anywhere near what they are now.
License & regulate it’s sale.
Punish those caught selling without a license severely.
Or, continue to not regulate it or (really) punish anyone caught selling it.
Market is worth around half a BILLION, someone is always going to fill a demand that size. We will never stop it, and efforts put in to seize the minuscule amount they do could be put to better use elsewhere.
It is a complete no brainer.
Good work Gardaí. I hope we can one day rid our country of the terrible scourge of cannabis.
#drugsareformugs
#smokersarejokers
I take it that you’re joking.
“Drug seizures play a key role in targeting the livelihoods of criminals and disrupting their networks, as well as protecting communities.”
Actually drug seizures increase risks and as a consequence hugely increase profits for criminal elements that will always be willing to engage in horrendous acts for money. We won’t ever control the huge demand there is for mind altering substances, we have to regulate the supply instead.
Definitly agree, at the end of the day the high up crim who brought this into the country will already have gotten or will still get his money from this drug runner or distributer. Legalise canabis,tackle the harder drugs. Gards might have to actually work a bit a harder then! Any joe so can find canabis walking around dublin, easy to follow someone after thats not police work
The market for cannabis in Ireland is worth upwards of €500m a year.
So yeah, I’m sure €200k is going to put a great big dent in that.
That’s the same stash they found last week in limerick but it makes them look good eh…
Still to be analysed? You mean roll a few spliffs and see how good it was
Some load of camel shit there.
Camel shit.
Old rubber.
Engine oil.
Glass.
Stoners will smoke any old shit.
have your say