The question posed to the Dáil’s 23 women TDs was: Should political parties be required to adopt gender quotas in their candidate selection process?
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin (FF)
NO
“I do not think that quotas are a good idea or necessarily work"
Minister for Health Mary Harney (Ind)
NO
“Where we are is very disappointing"
Minister of State for Equality Mary White (Green Party)
NO
“I got in without a quota or target and I’m very proud of that"
Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan (FF)
NO
“Women should be elected according to their ability"
Minister of State for Older People Áine Brady (Fianna Fáil)
NO
“I’d be reluctant to engage in the quota method"
Mary O’Rourke (Fianna Fáil)
NO
“Such quotas are discriminatory"
Mary Wallace (Fianna Fáil)
NO
“Women involved with FF have very strong role models"
Máire Hoctor (Fianna Fáil)
NO
“I may change my mind ... no progress has been made"
Lucinda Creighton (Fine Gael)
NO
“Quotas [are] a very easy way to get people off the hook"
Olwyn Enright (Fine Gael)
NO
“Quotas are a little simplistic"
Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
NO
“Quotas discriminate against women"
Róisín Shortall (Labour)
NO
“I never felt I’d like to be in a position to fill a quota"
Mary Upton (Labour)
NO
"Next thing there'll be quotas for people with blue eyes" Maureen O'Sullivan (Ind)
NO
“They are insulting to women"
Jan O’Sullivan (Labour)
YES
“I support this approach"
Beverley Flynn (Fianna Fáil)
YES
“In an ideal world I wouldn’t agree"
Margaret Conlon (Fianna Fáil)
YES
“I have no difficulty with quotas per se"
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
YES
“Politics is a male-dominated world"
Kathleen Lynch (Labour)
YES
“Choice is democratic"
Olivia Mitchell (Fine Gael)
YES
“I’m a very reluctant yes"
Joan Burton (Labour)
YES
“I broadly support the proposal"
Liz McManus (Labour)
YES
“But I don’t believe it’s going to be that easy"
Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael)
DON’T KNOW
“It’s a difficult one to make a decision on, to be honest"