Women sidelined

AT FIRST reading, it might seem astonishing that of the 17 secretary general jobs in the civil service, only two are held by women and only one of those in a substantial department. In addition, of the 138 assistant secretaries, 96 are men.

Of course this is wrong, but there are historical reasons for it, not least the fact that women were required to leave the service on marriage before that archaic rule was overturned.

The fact that the Department of Education has announced university posts open to women only, in a bid to increase their representation, avoids the irony that, Minister of State Mary Mitchell O’Connor notwithstanding, those in the department drawing up the plan are men.

We have made many strides towards equal pay and equal career opportunities, but it is clear we have a long way to go.