The newly appointed Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has said she would "love" to see more women serving in the Cabinet.
After being re-elected as Taoiseach yesterday, Micheál Martin revealed his Cabinet last night.
Among the appointments is Norma Foley, the former Education Minister, who will now lead the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
Minister Foley is just one of three female Cabinet Ministers in the new Government, serving alongside Minister for Education Helen McEntee and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
Pictured are new Ministers gathering for a portrait after being appointed to Cabinet by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ieOn Newstalk Breakfast Minister Foley said she would like to see more women involved in the political system generally.
"I would love to see more and more women serving in Cabinet," she said.
"To be fair there are three women senior ministers, but there are also two super junior ministers, so that’s actually five at Cabinet.
"To achieve [more female Ministers] we need to see more women elected."
Ceann Comhairle
The incoming Government elected Wexford TD Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle - the first woman to be appointed to that position.
"I think that's a very significant signal to the world," Minister Foley said.
However, she accepts that there is still a "body of work to do" in seeing more women serve in senior positions.
The Taoiseach has been criticised for the number of women appointed as Ministers - which is one less than in the last Government.
President Michael D Higgins appoints Micheal Martin as Taoiseach of the 34th Dail at Áras an Uachtaráin. Photograph: Evan Treacy / © RollingNews.ieWomen for Election chair Aldagh McDonogh said the group is "extremely disappointed" by the lack of women in the Cabinet.
"[This was] a superb opportunity to really reflect women's voices around the decision-making table," she said.
"There were many excellently talented women that could have been selected for a key position - so we're perplexed."
Of the 174 seats in the Dáil, 44 are held by women.
Feature image: Norma Foley, Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie
