Government TD to boycott meeting of women politicians

A female-only meeting of TDs and Senators, scheduled for tonight, is being boycotted by one of the woman due to attend.

Labour TD Joanna Tuffy said that she will not be present, on the grounds that men are not invited.

Fine Gael's Mary Mitchell O'Connor is behind this evening's meeting which will focus on gender equality in Irish politics.

"I think that there would be heavy criticism of a meeting to which only men Oireachtas members were invited," she told the Irish Times.

"I see myself as a representative of the people and part of the mainstream, working with my fellow men and women on issues that affect the people.

"I think such a meeting is about segregation of public representatives on the basis of the gender and that that is a backward move, whatever the issue to be discussed."