Varadkar refutes criticism of Cabinet gender balance and ‘welcomes dissent’

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has no plans to meet with TDs who have openly criticised his failure to promote a number of women to senior positions, despite three colleagues lashing out at his decision in recent days.

Mr Varadkar dismissed the criticism, saying he welcomes “debate and dissent” after backbenchers Maria Bailey and Kate O’Connell followed demoted super junior minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor in hitting out at the make-up of his Cabinet.

In comments to a Sunday newspaper, Ms Bailey and Ms O’Connell — who were both high-profile supporters of Simon Coveney’s leadership campaign and were not promoted from the backbench — criticised the gender balance of Mr Varadkar’s cabinet.