The removal of free parking for public sector workers would disproportionately affect lower-paid workers and parents.
Irish Times Columnist Jen Hogan was responding to comments from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, which suggested that free parking could be scrapped as soon as this year.
It is part of a plan to cut down on congestion in city centres where there are good public transport links.
Ms Hogan told The Hard Shoulder women will be hardest hit by the changes.
"When we remove the likes of that, or if we talk about removing the likes of that, it will disproportionately impact women," he said.
"Most of the lower-paid jobs within the civil service, public sector - any of those kids of jobs - most of those grades and ranks are occupied by women.
"We're also going to impact mothers.
"They don't have this direct commute, they don't have this option: if take away parking you are impacting those that are lower-paid and you're impacting mothers disproportionately.
"I think this is a bit of a sledgehammer approach.
"If we were to look at this, and this was something that was impacting men more, it might be viewed a little bit differently".
'Moving the goalposts'
Ms Hogan said the change would be more pressure on people's time and income.
"If you're going to take away that one thing it's moving the goalposts really," she said.
"You take the job, you presume this is your conditions and if you move the goalposts you make it perhaps untenable for some women to remain.
"It's about the flexibility required to try to manage working along with having a family, or along with having other external commitments.
"Maybe they've elderly parents they're trying to take care of and they're trying to work around that.
"It's about work-life balance," she added.
'Turkeys voting for Christmas'
Irish Parking Association Chair Keith Gavin told the show he does not think the plan will actually happen.
"The largest single carpark within [Dublin] city centre is actually at Dáil Éireann at Leinster House," he said.
"While I do see some merit in it, I won't be holding my breath for it to happen because I can't see turkeys voting for Christmas.
"I can't see this happening, but I do think it would certainly help the traffic situation in Dublin city centre.
"Our main problems are at peak hours in the morning and in the evening.
"We've all seen since COVID and the introduction of hybrid working what it's like on a Monday and a Friday when that commuter traffic is removed."
Mr Gavin said traffic levels have fallen in Dublin city but congestion has not.
"The simple fact is traffic has reduced in the city centre by over 35% in the last 10 years and yet our congestion is getting worse," he said.
"That's part of a deliberate campaign by the powers that be to discourage private car use within the city centre," he added.
Cabinet approved plans to phase out parking in public sector workplaces last May.
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