Irish women near bottom of EU scale for top jobs

IRISH women languish close to the bottom of the scale, under-represented in politics and business and shut out of top posts, according to an EU report.

The Government was accused of paying just lip service to the idea of gender equality amid demands Ireland follow other countries in introducing a quota system for women TDs.

Irish women are caught up in a vicious cycle where, because they are not in key positions in society, they are having little effect in influencing policies that affect their lives, according to the National Women’s Council of Ireland.