'Women for Election' Calls to Create Gender Balance in Irish Cabinet

Government negotiating parties have been called by Women for Election alongside young women in Politics and Science students from Loretto Convent in Bray, during a photocall at Government Buildings.

The parties were called with an intent to commit to a gender-balanced Cabinet while they build the next Government. Since the foundation of the state, only 22 women in total have ever served in the Cabinet while on the other hand, 213 men have served during the same period. The first was Constance Markievicz in the year 1919 and the second one was Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in 1979.

Women for Election CEO Brian Sheehan stated, “Women make up half the population, yet their voices and lived experience are absent from essential political and Government decision-making roles, especially in Cabinet. There has never been more than four women at any one time in the 15-member Cabinet in the history of the State.”

Brian added, “Women for Election are calling on political parties involved in Government formation talks – in particular Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality by agreeing to appoint a minimum of 40% women to the Cabinet, a minimum of seven government Ministers.”