Sharp criticism of gender disparity as Government announces junior ministers

There had been widespread criticism of the full Cabinet announcement last week, which saw the number of female senior ministers drop from four to three

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025 - 20:30

Paul Hosford, Deputy Political Correspondent

The Government has been strongly criticised after its announcement of junior ministers left just nine women as officeholders from a record 38.

Just four of the 19 announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris on Wednesday — Niamh Smyth, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Emer Higgins, and Marian Harkin — are women, added to the five women announced among the 19 ministers who will sit at Cabinet last week.