Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly says she has received sexual threats online, as well as threats of physical violence during her time in the Oireachtas.

As a result she says she has had to upgrade security at her home for her safety.

A conference held in Westmeath yesterday heard that getting more women into politics is challenging because of the abuse and harassment they face.

Deputy O'Reilly believes women in politics are targeted in different ways than men, but hopes it won't deter young women from getting involved in public life.

"I do want to say the vast majority of people who contact my office are looking for help", she told On The Record.

She said, however, that she also receives a lot of negative emails.

"That's the stuff that you remember. If people give you 20 compliments, you'll forget them. If people say one nasty thing, that's the thing that stays with you."

Women in politics

Deputy O'Reilly says that combatting this kind of abuse means getting more women into politics.

"I think that by having more of us there, we have a fighting chance of being able to change this", she said.

According to the TD for Dublin Fingal, open discussion and a "zero tolerance approach" from both female and male politicians could help make things safer for the next generation of political leaders.

"I'm very conscious of the fact that my colleague Martin Kelly has had his home attacked, and we need to be conscious that sometimes comes off the internet and into real life", she said.

"It can be bloody dangerous for men and for women."

"But I think that when we talk about it, there's a difference maybe between the abuse that men receive online and women ... it can be somewhat sexualised when it comes to women."

Threats

She said that along with threats of physical harm, women are more likely to receive rape threats.

Deputy O'Reilly says she uses "a massive amount of filters" on her social media to avoid seeing the worst of the abuse.

"I mute and I block very quickly and very liberally because I don't want to see that, I don't want to be put off doing my job", she said.

"I love my job. This is a great job. It is the honour of my life to do this job and I try to ignore this to the greatest extent possible."

"But then sometimes it comes into real life."

The Oireachtas recently informed Deputy O'Reilly of a threat, which she said 'spurred her on' to increase security at her home.

Intimidation

Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan said recently that attacks on politicians have been used to intimidate — and it's working.

She too has been victim to harassment and abuse online and in person.

Deputy Hourigan told The Pat Kenny Show that the issue is such that "we're past guff".

"It would stop you kind of really engaging in the work of your job", she said.

"I've gone past the the stage of recommending politics to people."

Listen back to the full conversation here.

Main image shows Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Louise O'Reilly. Picture by: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie