Too many women are being forced out of Irish politics

Letters to the Editor

Junior minister Anne Rabbitte has said she does not intend to contest the next election. Photo: PA

February 20 2023 02:30 AM

I listened to an interview with Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday concerning the incident on January 4 when a bag of excrement was thrown at her during a public meeting in Gort, Co Galway.

This was a cowardly, ignorant and unacceptable act against one of our Irish citizens who also happens to be an elected legislator and a junior minister.

I was saddened but not surprised to hear Ms Rabbitte say that she does not intend to contest the next election.

Women of her calibre are needed in Dáil Éireann. Throughout the history of this State, far too many women have been excluded not only from politics but also from religion – mostly by the Catholic Church – and from many other aspects of Irish society, including employment opportunities.

While some progress has been made in recent times, the proportion of women in Irish politics is still far too small.

Throughout the history of the State so far, less than 10pc of those elected to the Dáil have been women, in spite of them representing more than 50pc of the population. The present Dáil still has only 22.5pc women. Such imbalance in any society is counterproductive and dangerous.

Women are also far more likely to be subjected to violent sexual assaults than men, and the recent increase in the number of women being murdered in Ireland is also of serious concern.

The Irish State is still failing to treat all its citizens equally and justly.

Edward Horgan

Castletroy, Co Limerick

Government busy bickering while our people go hungry

Recent reports indicate that the Government is in difficulty reaching agreement on measures to relieve the cost-of-living crisis (‘Coalition’s concern over eviction ban in talks about new cost-of-living measures’, Irish Independent, February 17).

The three government parties are wrangling over the measures on the basis of their favourite lobbyists, their electorate supporters and how their TDs will benefit.

The opposition parties and Independents’ ideas on solutions are ignored at best or rubbished. Meanwhile, the people living in fuel and food poverty are forgotten.

Our Government is divisive, unwieldy and unfit to establish policy in the interest of Ireland’s citizens. In a crisis, a government needs to unite to ensure that all citizens are supported in a just and fair society, which Ireland is not.

Hugh McDermott

Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Loss of Beirne a big setback to Grand Slam ambitions

The news that Tadhg Beirne will miss the final three Six Nations games is a blow to our Grand Slam hopes. While Iain Henderson is an excellent replacement in most areas of the game, he does not have Beirne’s jackal abilities and this in a lock/blind-side flanker is a hugely important part of modern rugby.

For the Italian test, perhaps Andy Farrell could look at Henderson at lock, Caelan Doris at 6 and Jack Conan or Gavin Coombes at 8.

David Ryan

Co Meath

Full marks for Eamon Ryan on regional transport effort

I would love to do a live interview with Eamon Ryan on where the Green Party stands on issues like our haphazard approach to energy policy. Or our bizarre planning laws, which are at best a mishmash of nonsense.

Ryan is, however, in fairness to him, delivering on regional transport with vital rural links which are, for the first time, improving the lives of many.

Is this the first time we have seen a transport minister at work? For all the faults of the Greens whose policies often appear to be in mid-air, on the transport portfolio, hats off to Ryan, 10 out of 10, beir bua.

Noel Mannion

Clonbur, Co Galway

The Brexit show must go on, but time for Boris to bow out

Boris Johnson seems to be interfering in the talks regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol. He should be told to leave the stage, as his act is over. His successor, Liz Truss, had only a walk-on part.

Leo Gormley

Dundalk, Co Louth