Appointing male CEO to body helping women enter politics 'the wrong message to send'

Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty said the appointment of Brian Sheehan 'it's the wrong message to send to women that we couldn’t find a woman to head up' Women for Election. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

The appointment of a male CEO to a non-profit organisation which supports women to run for politics has caused division, with some saying it “sends the wrong message”.

Brian Sheehan, who was previously the first general-secretary of the Social Democrats and former executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, was announced as the new CEO of Women for Election on Wednesday.