Lack of female Ministers is a ‘missed opportunity’, women’s groups say
Source: Irish Times
The appointment of only four senior female Cabinet Ministers is a “missed opportunity” directly linked to the lack of women candidates put forward in winnable seats across the State, women’s rights groups have said.
Women still face systemic barriers in politics, said Ciairín de Buis, chief executive of Women for Election: “It is disappointing that once again a Government has missed the opportunity to appoint a balanced Cabinet.
“Just 22 women have held full Cabinet ranks since the foundation of the State. That’s not good enough. It’s not enough to say there aren’t enough women in the Dáil to appoint a balanced cabinet.
“This isn’t inevitable, it’s not like the sun setting every evening – there aren’t enough women in the Dáil because of systematic barriers to their full participation in Irish political life.
“We need political leadership to see change across all levels of politics; this was a missed opportunity to see more women at Cabinet level. And while it is very welcome that two women have been appointed as ‘super juniors’, I’ve no doubt that both women and many others would have been more than capable of serving in a senior Cabinet role.”
Click here to read the full article published by Irish Times on 28 June 2020.
The appointment of only four senior female Cabinet Ministers is a “missed opportunity” directly linked to the lack of women candidates put forward in winnable seats across the State, women’s rights groups have said.
Women still face systemic barriers in politics, said Ciairín de Buis, chief executive of Women for Election: “It is disappointing that once again a Government has missed the opportunity to appoint a balanced Cabinet.
“Just 22 women have held full Cabinet ranks since the foundation of the State. That’s not good enough. It’s not enough to say there aren’t enough women in the Dáil to appoint a balanced cabinet.
“This isn’t inevitable, it’s not like the sun setting every evening – there aren’t enough women in the Dáil because of systematic barriers to their full participation in Irish political life.
“We need political leadership to see change across all levels of politics; this was a missed opportunity to see more women at Cabinet level. And while it is very welcome that two women have been appointed as ‘super juniors’, I’ve no doubt that both women and many others would have been more than capable of serving in a senior Cabinet role.”
Click here to read the full article published by Irish Times on 28 June 2020.