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Former TD says there is ‘push back’ in Fine Gael against female candidates

Kate O’Connell said gender quotas are not helping more women make it in politics.

A FORMER FINE Gael TD has said there was resistance in some sectors of the party against female candidates.

Kate O’Connell lost her seat in Dublin Bay South in February’s general election.

O’Connell was among a number of female TDs to lose their seats in the election, with party colleagues Regina Doherty and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy also losing out.

Fianna Fáil Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers and Fianna Fáil TDs Fiona O’Loughlin and Margaret Murphy O’Mahony also lost out.

The Seanad election last week saw fewer than 30% of the seats being filled by women.

Speaking to Newstalk FM, O’Connell said she has seen some resistance from some members of the party when female candidates progress.

She added: “There was a massive push-back from certain sectors…. I am speaking about my own party because that is what I have knowledge of.

“When there is progress from women there is push-back from some elements from the party – usually the Young Fine Gael wing.”

O’Connell said gender quotas are not working and have not helped to get female candidates in Fine Gael elected as TDs or Senators.

Political parties lose funding if less than 30% of their general election candidates are women.

She said: “As a party, we have to look at why the measures we have put in and why the investment and training we have put in has not yielded additional female parliamentarians.

“The problem is the net result is not more women.”

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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    May 8th 2014, 8:27 PM

    I thought they were just big boned?

    75
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    Mute Dell
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    May 8th 2014, 9:18 PM

    That’s a great comment.. My mother used to excuse my poor sisters baby fat by saying that to people. that or that she is a strong girl.

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    Mute unknown
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    May 8th 2014, 7:56 PM

    Why did the bear dissolve in water….. because he was a polar bear

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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    May 8th 2014, 9:51 PM

    Bearly makes any sense?

    48
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    Mute Accord Moan Eye
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    May 9th 2014, 11:32 AM

    Someone doesn’t know their chemistry….

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    Mute Stephen
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    May 8th 2014, 9:42 PM

    Despite what we think, a polar bear’s fur is not white. Each hair is clear hollow tube. Polar bears look white because each hollow hair reflects the light. They suffer from thyroid problems and water retention like myself.

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    Mute Gary Comerford
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    May 8th 2014, 9:19 PM

    There’s a bear that we all know… Yogi

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    Mute Theresa Newman
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    May 9th 2014, 9:11 AM

    So…let’s analyse how polar bears cope with obesity…so humans can learn how to be obese and stay alive?

    I’m all for research and finding out more about these animals, but why can’t humans just stop eating so much fat? We are the first generation of humans that will die younger than our ancestors, because of obesity or fatness-related illnesses.

    You won’t see a polar bear driving a mobility scooter and cramming cheeseburgers into it’s gob – it eats fat because that’s all there is for them to eat! Humans have a choice.

    Step away from the buffet. Give peas a chance…

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    Mute mikeobrien4FM
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    May 8th 2014, 11:48 PM

    Wahooo! I’m a polar bear!!!!

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