Female contribution vital, says O’Rourke

The very term “gender quotas” has given rise to a “bad aura” about women in politics, according to the former minister, Mary O’Rourke, who has offered to mentor young women who want to contest seats for Fianna Fáil in next year’s local elections.

She also described the Dáil sitting times — considered to be a barrier to parents staying in politics — as “ridiculous” and said “they should sit from 9 o’clock until 6 o’clock like an office”.

In a discussion called ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ Ms O’Rourke spoke to party delegates about a Fianna Fáil women’s group set up by Charlie Haughey in 1983.