Irish women face 400-year wait for equality

IT will take almost 400 years to have an equal ratio of men and women in the Dáil at the current rate of progress.

This is despite repeated commitments from political parties and the Government to increase the role of women in politics.

With just 22 female TDs out of a total of 166, Ireland languishes in 68th position in the world, with many sub-Saharan African nations reporting better rates of female participation in parliament.