The Taoiseach's office has defended the recent appointment of junior ministers, claiming that decisions were based on individual suitability, not gender bias. With only six women among the 23 new junior ministers, criticisms have surfaced regarding gender representation. A spokesman acknowledged women's underrepresentation, noting the electorate only returned seven female TDs out of 48 for Fianna Fáil. Despite recognizing gender equality as a persistent issue, there was reluctance from the Tánaiste's office to adopt gender quotas for cabinet roles, highlighting the complexities surrounding gender balance in Irish politics, particularly given Ireland's poor performance in female parliamentary representation.
The Taoiseach's office insists that appointments were made based on 'suitability' rather than misogyny, despite only six of 23 junior ministers being women.
A spokesman for Tánaiste Simon Harris acknowledged that gender equality 'remains an ongoing issue' but refused to commit to using gender quotas for cabinet appointments.
Ireland holds the lowest representation of women in western European parliaments, with only 25% of TDs being women, underlining ongoing gender inequalities in politics.
The statement from Taoiseach Micheál Martin's spokesman highlighted that suitability is based on various factors, and not solely on gender when making appointments.
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