Gender laws force councillor to vacate seat

A WOMAN councillor was forced yesterday to vacate a seat on a powerful committee and be replaced by a male colleague – due to gender legislation.

Three women elected to the city council in Limerick as councillors were also nominated to serve on the Limerick City Vocational Education Committee.

The council was given nine seats on the committee but, under new gender legislation – brought in to encourage more participation by women in politics – the local authority had to replace one of the female members.