Women in Politics: the Media Debate

In recent weeks and months there has been mounting media attention given to the persistent and shameful under-representation of women in Irish politics. Below is just some of the coverage to date which provides some background to the current debate.

Tuesday 15th March - Irish Independent

Fianna Fáil youth chief quits over sexism row

"FIANNA FAIL has become the latest party to be embroiled in a sexism row after the chair of the party's youth wing resigned her position in protest...According to Ms Lordan, women in Fianna Fail are 'good for a photo shoot and little else'...."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Independent website.

Monday 14th March - Mary Minihan writing in the Irish Times

Quinn got Cabinet post at Shortall's expense, insiders claim

"JUNIOR MINISTER Róisín Shortall had been in line for a Cabinet position until Ruairí Quinn succeeded in his last-minute demand for a post, according to Labour Party sources. Ms Shortall, Labour's former spokeswoman on social protection, was passed over for senior office last Wednesday before subsequently being appointed Minister of State for Primary Care..."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Times website.

Sunday 13th March - Prof. Diarmaid Ferriter writing in the Sunday Business Post

The ultimate old boys' network

"Modern Irish political culture remains embarrassing because of its maleness and the contempt it continues to show towards women..."

Click here to read the full article on the Sunday Business Post website.

Friday 11th March - NWCI CEO Susan McKay writing in the Irish Times

Normal Cabinet service resumes with jobs for the boys... again

"The shafting of Joan Burton proves it. We have gender apartheid in Irish politics. The country is once again to be run by Irish men with brass necks and brass balls. Burton should have been made Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. She was not. Why? Because a man wanted the job...."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Times website.

Friday 11th March - Irish Examiner

Labour Women concern over lack of Cabinet roles

"LABOUR women are to write to their party leader, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, expressing concern over his decision to appoint just one woman to Cabinet and the perceived over-looking of Joan Burton for a senior finance portfolio...."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Examiner's website.

Monday, 28th February - Daily Mail Speirs2007SusanMcKay06 Susan McKay, Director, NWCI

Article by NWCI Chief Executive Susan McKay on the results of Election 2011

"An image from the election campaign. Beautiful, smart Miriam O'Callaghan perched on a barstool interviewing a circle made up entirely of idenitkit men in dark suits and ties, all agitating to be elected. There were endless photos of white, middle class, middle aged men, endless programmes in which no women were invited to speak..."

Click here to read the full article.

Monday, 28th February - Patricia McDonagh writing in the Irish Independent

Record 23 female TDs elected but none for FF

"FIANNA Fail has failed to return a female TD to the Dail -- despite a barrier breaking election in which a record 23 women entered national politics. And as counting continued in four constituencies last night experts predicted the final tally of women TDs could reach 26...."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Independent website.

Friday, 25th February - Mary Minihan writing in the Irish Times

Little funding of women in politics

"OF €15 million in State funding for political parties, 2 per cent was spent on promoting women's participation in politics, according to analysis by a new civic movement....."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Times website.

One from the archives: 19th February 1912 - The Irish Times

Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, Catholic bishop of Limerick worries about women getting the vote

"...Are women to attend public meetings, join clubs and leagues, and other such bodies and just as men do now take an active interest in all political developments? It is not easy to see how such a life is consistent with the care of home and children, and regard for the great and important interests that now depend entirely on the woman of the house."

The full article is well worth reading - click here to to access it on the Irish Times website.

Saturday, 19th February - Medb Ruane writing in the Irish Independent

What about gender, Enda -- and the rest of you Dail dinosaurs?

"The gene pool of Irish politics was rarely as limited as on Valentine's Day, when the five party leaders debated on RTÉ. All men, all from a Roman Catholic background, all eager to diagnose the country's woes..."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Independent website.

Thursday, 17th February - Mary Minihan writing in the Irish Times

Mná na hÉireann lose ground

"WHILE THERE are more women running in this general election compared with 2007, percentage-wise the total is down. Some 15 per cent of the 566 candidates are women, a fall of 2 percent on the 2007 poll..."

Click here to read the full article on the Irish Times website.

Saturday, 12th February - Breda O'Brien writing in the Irish Times

Women still must jump too many hurdles to win in politics

"You have to change the way candidates are selected, and support women to enter that world and compete... Political parties are the gatekeepers here. They have a huge amount of influence on how many women eventually appear on ballot papers."

To read the full article, click here.

Thursday, February 10th 2011 - Irish Examiner article by Gordon Deegan

Clare Women sign up to stop male only ballot

"THREE women made an eleventh-hour decision yesterday to register as candidates in the Clare constituency in an effort to "balance the ballot." Prior to yesterday, there were 12 male candidates contesting the four-seat constituency, prompting Sarah Ferrigan, Ann Cronin and Madeline McAleer, to make their move..."

Click here to read the full article.

Tuesday, February 8th 2011 - Irish Independent

Candidates bridge the gender gap

"FINE GAEL men dominated the political scene in Carlow-Kilkenny yesterday but while they were busy, the constituency's four women candidates were posing on an iconic bridge...."

Click here to read the full article.

Saturday, February 5th 2011 - Irish Independent article by Alison O'Connor

It's time to end the Dail's 'old boys' club' mentality

"It's this season's must-have accessory and no political leader dares to be seen in public without one -- the female candidate, preferably dressed in pastel..."

Click here to read the full article from the Irish Independent.

Thursday, January 6th 2011 - Tonight with Vincent Browne, TV3

Women and Politics episode on Tonight with Vincent Browne

Discussion about the reasons behind the low numbers of women in Irish politics, featuring NWCI spokesperson Camille Loftus.

Click here to watch the episode.

Saturday, September 4th 2010 - Irish Times article by Fiona Gartland

'Urgent' need for more women TDs

"URGENT ACTION must be taken to get more women into the Dáil, the National Women's Council of Ireland said last night..."

Click to read the rest of the article from the Irish Times.

August 20th 2010 - feature on BBC Women's Hour

Should there be quotas for women in the Irish Dail?

Mary O'Rourke TD and Senator Ivana Bacik debate the issue on BBC Radio. Listen to the discussion.....it's the first 12 minutes.