Fianna Fáil launch plan to encourage women in politics

Fianna Fáil has launched a new plan to boost the number of women in politics.

They said their proposals offer more encouragement and support both locally and nationally.

Senator Averil Power said one of the main barriers preventing women from entering politics is childcare, and that is something they are hoping to change.

"The real gap we identified in the childcare side is at the national level - it's around the working hours, particularly the unpredictability," she said.

Citing her own experience working with councils, she said the practice of planning meetings well in advance "gives female members an opportunity to arrange for someone else to mind their children on those particular days."