Tánaiste criticised over failure to promote any women in recent cabinet reshuffle
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Women in Fianna Fáil have expressed their frustration with Tánaiste Micheál Martin over his failure to promote a woman as part of last week’s minor reshuffle.
Last week, Jack Chambers was promoted to Finance Minister following the departure of Michael McGrath from Cabinet, moving out of his ‘super junior’ role.
Replacing Mr Chambers as Fianna Fáil’s ‘super junior’ at Cabinet was Dara Calleary, a former agriculture minister who currently is a minister of State at the department of enterprise.
Kildare TD James Lawless was moved into Mr Chambers’ old role as junior minister for roads, while no woman in the party was promoted.
Speculation in the days ahead of the moves centred on Mr Lawless as well as Media Committee chairperson Niamh Smyth as potential candidates for the junior government role.
One source within the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party said that Mr Martin’s decision not to promote a woman was “disappointing for the 51% of the population who are looking in”.
They added that the Tánaiste did not have the same “respect or regard” for women within Fianna Fáil.
A number of sources described the failure to promote a woman as a “bad look” for Fianna Fáil, with one saying it “speaks to a male-dominated profession that women will continue to struggle [in]”.
“It’s a really poor reflection of the party,” another source said, while another said that there were “too few” women in prominent roles.
However, one source acknowledged that of the five women TDs within Fianna Fáil, three of them were serving in Government, including Norma Foley as Education Minister.
Ahead of the decision being made, current junior minister Mary Butler was speculated as a possible option for elevation to Cabinet level.
Fianna Fáil senator Fiona O’Loughlin said that both Ms Butler and Anne Rabbitte would have been “worthy for promotion” and that she believes both would have been considered for Cabinet elevation.
She said that in any future reshuffles, that Mr Martin would “have regard” for both Ms Butler and Ms Rabbitte.
Women for Election, which provides support for women across the country to get elected, were also critical of Mr Martin’s failure to promote a woman. A spokesperson said:
“The recent decision was a lost opportunity to do so.”
Writer Stefanie Preissner, who is married to Fianna Fáil advisor Noel Byrne, was also critical of Mr Martin’s decision.
“It’s really disappointing to see Fianna Fáil continue to roll out the female members of the party for photo ops & media events and yet when there are actual positions open, or opportunities to advance female talent, it’s overlooked and goes to the boys. Absolute pink washing,” she wrote on X.