Gender balance in Irish politics ranked among world’s worst

IN 2004, a worldwide poll ranking female representation in national politics put Ireland in 63rd position.

Last month, that ranking had slipped to an abysmal 88th position, below countries such as Bolivia, Sudan, Cambodia and Kazakhstan, making Irish women among the most under-represented in political life across the EU. The rankings were compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union which has UN observer status.

At the current rate of movement – or indeed non-movement – it will take 370 years for the percentage of women in the Dáil to reach 50%.