Ability is much more important than gender
NEWLY appointed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar received a great deal of criticism about the number of women appointed to his cabinet with many people questioning the significant gender imbalance.
Critics said that in order to encourage more women to run for public office in future elections, they should be seen in prominent positions where they can inspire the next generation.
I would very much like to see more female representation in Dáil Éireann but as politics was traditionally a male- dominated area, it will take time to rectify this imbalance.
Unfortunately, it cannot be done overnight and therefore, Varadkar simply didn’t have a balanced number of male and female candidates to choose from.
It is concerning that anyone would want to see ministerial positions given out on the basis of gender rather than ability.
Male or female, once you are up to the job, then what does it matter?
In reality gender should make no difference at all - but instead the ability of a candidate to take on their brief in a confident and capable manner.
Giving someone a job because they are female and it would look good is just as sexist as denying them the role based on their gender.
I don’t know any female politician who is in their role just because they are a woman and I don’t think people vote in this way either.
The fact that it is even such a big issue in this day and age is quiet surprising. If women want to run for election, they can - and they know this. They don’t need to be coaxed and pushed into it.
I’m not quite sure that all of Varadkar’s choices will keep the electorate happy but he has made them and until the next election they must be given a chance to do their jobs.
Whether it is three months, six months or a year, a General Election is not far off and that is the time that the gender imbalance could be addressed.
We need the right candidates however. We should never enter a polling booth and choose a candidate based on gender. This would be a disaster for our country. The best person for the job, the person who can get things done and look to the future is the one worth backing and whether this is male or female is irrelevant.