The kiss of death for female representation in politics?

"WE want to see as many of them as possible” — this was the one-line response by a grinning Enda Kenny two years ago, when he was asked if female representation would increase under a Fine Gael government.

It was a Sunday morning party ‘family photo’ — the first event of the election campaign that he would go on to win — and Enda posed with a huddle of female candidates, all waving to the cameras. Days later, these women were nowhere to be seen for the more serious business of launching the party’s manifesto at a press conference with Mr Kenny, James Reilly, Michael Noonan, Phil Hogan, Richard Bruton and Leo Varadkar.

When questions opened up to the floor, Sarah Burke, health-policy journalist, said she was struck by the gender profile at the top table, and she asked if this imbalance would be reflected in a Fine Gael government. The Taoiseach said it was a coincidence that it was just men launching the document, because they happened to be the main spokespeople for the party.