The number of women in the Irish cabinet has fallen from four to three, dealing a further blow to the country’s reputation on gender equality in politics.
“There are now as many men named James in the cabinet as there are women,” the Social Democrat MP Jennifer Whitmore said, after the 15-member cabinet was announced by the new Irish prime minister, Micheál Martin, on Thursday.
The cabinet has the worst gender diversity in western Europe. Of the 174 seats up for grabs in November’s election, 44 went to women, amounting to a representation of slightly more than 25%, compared with the western European average of 37% and a figure of 32% for the continent as a whole.
Whitmore said: “Instead of working to address that [imbalance] by promoting talented women from within their own ranks, the government parties have reverted to type – creating a cosy boys’ club.”
Martin, who leads the Fianna Fáil party, was formally appointed on Thursday for his second stint as prime minister, having served in the role between 2020 and 2022. After the election, the party agreed to re-enter a coalition with Fine Gael, led by the outgoing prime minister, Simon Harris.
The appointment was delayed by a row over speaking rights for the independent MPs who would prop up the coalition after the collapse in support for the Green party, the coalition’s junior partner in the previous parliament.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael pay lip service to increasing women’s representation in politics. They just don’t believe in promoting them when they get elected,” Whitmore said.
Sinn Féin has also condemned the make up of the new cabinet. Mairéad Farrell, the MP for Galway West, said: “I am flabbergasted that the new taoiseach has consigned women to play a secondary role in government.”
Sinn Féin also criticised the lack of representation for the west of the country and border regions. “There is once again a lack of regional balance. Of the 15 senior ministers, 11 are from Dublin and Leinster [the southern province of Ireland], just one from Connacht/Ulster and none from the border region,” Farrell said.
“Politics should strive to reflect and mirror the communities we represent. Micheál Martin’s new government has failed its first test.”
