More women TDs needed

Nuala Nolan says that people vote for those they believe is ‘the best person’ to represent them in Dáil Eireann and the smaller number of women elected is just ‘the choice of the electorate’ [Letters, May 12].

That is ignoring the fact that we had a 95% male Dail during most of the period since independence and even with a quota in the last election we still have a 75% male Dail.

Because they live longer women are a majority in the population but historically they had derisory representation in most of the parliaments of the world including the Dáil. Their interests, talents and perspectives are thereby marginalised in what is supposed to be representative democracies. That is neither representative nor electing the best person.