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Leo Varadkar at the Vital Voices event today in Dublin. Sam Boal

'Some validity' in criticism of Fine Gael Seanad candidates, says Varadkar

The party has 11 female candidates running for election in the Seanad.

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said there is “some validity” in criticism of the number of female Seanad candidates nominated by Fine Gael. 

The party’s national executive met at the end of last month to finalise its list of what are dubbed as “inside” nominations to the Seanad. 

Kate O’Connell, who lost her TD seat in Dublin Bay South in the recent general election, did not receive a nomination. 

Catherine Noone, Gab McFadden, Mary Newman Julian, Maria Byrne and other female party members received outside nominations for Fine Gael. 

An “inside” nomination to the Seanad requires the backing of four TDs or Senators, as explained in TheJournal.ie’s guide to the Seanad elections. 

There are 11 female Fine Gael candidates running for the Seanad. 

“I know there has been some criticism of the candidates Fine Gael has put forward for the Seanad,” Varadkar said today. 

“There is some validity in that criticism but again the truth is a little different to what has been reported. Fine Gael is running 11 women candidates for the Seanad on the two different tracks, with a certain number of seats allocated to each of the tracks. Four on one track, seven on the other,” he said. 

He said the party expects to win 11 or 12 seats in total in the Seanad.

“Quotas are good policy but they don’t automatically translate into electability. The fact that the new Dáil has only one more female than the last is further evidence of this,” Varadkar said. 

The Taoiseach was speaking today at the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk for International Women’s Day, which is tomorrow.

He said he hoped it “will change” when a new Cabinet is appointed that only 19 women have held Cabinet minister positions in the history of the State. 

Varadkar also said it is “disturbing” that three of seven female TDs in the most recent government lost their seats in last month’s general election, including Regina Doherty and Katherine Zappone. 

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    Mute Willy Mc Entire
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    Mar 7th 2020, 6:52 PM

    Jobs for those unfortunately not voted for by the people. So Lieo feels the elites can vote em in for new jobs. Seanad is a joke…

    413
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    Mute Liam Mernagh
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:49 PM

    @Willy Mc Entire: You had an opportunity to get rid of it but the people turned it down.

    41
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    Mute James Gorman #FBPE
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    Mar 8th 2020, 12:12 AM

    @Willy Mc Entire: Leo’s party gave the chance to rid us of this doss house

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Mar 8th 2020, 11:08 AM

    @Willy Mc Entire: Have you ever dealt with the Seanad or asked a Senator for assistance. If you did and also if you knew the constitution you would realise their value.

    2
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    Mute Willy Mc Entire
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    Mar 8th 2020, 12:16 PM

    @Gary Kearney: Gary I don’t get a bite regarding Seanad. Do you believe it’s correct an Irish citizen paying his taxes but doesn’t have a degree should be excluded from voting people into the Seanad. It’s undemocratic and just as I pointed out, a retirement bonus for political entities put our by those whom have a vote. You I’m afraid do not understand the Seanad or our constitution.

    3
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    Mute Larkin About
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:01 PM

    Oh, that’s the least you should be criticised for right now leo. Cancel the bloody parade before it costs lives

    216
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    Mute Gordon Comstock
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:05 PM

    @Larkin About: make it out to the lefty march demanding the abandonment of democracy today yourself?

    57
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    Mute john s
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:20 PM

    @Larkin About: wow . The medical professionals call the shots and they have not recommended a cancellation. But you do ? You should be on here screaming about the horrendous protest today that will cost lives in your logic

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    Mute The Risen
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    Mar 7th 2020, 8:48 PM
    25
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    Mute john s
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:10 PM

    @The Risen: ahh I see a couple of individual doctors come out in the press versus the chief medical officer for the state . But obviously he and his team should be ignored. Especially when they have the overall view of the situation and not the narrow view of the doctors you quote

    22
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    Mute john s
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:11 PM

    @The Risen: maybe put a question into mary lou and ask her who’s advice she would follow if she was incharge.?

    18
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    Mute Larkin About
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:57 PM

    @The Risen: John S only likes the medical professionals that are agreeing with his own position, which makes his entire post pointless.

    14
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    Mute David Shiels
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:29 PM

    @Larkin About: agreed. It’s irresponsible

    7
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:45 PM

    @The Risen: Out of the crypt. What about your silly rallies.How about the deficit of 2800 nurses up north. Don’t get the virus. Join the queue of 232 k people waiting for a medical appointment for over 9 weeks with your crew of incompetents in Government.
    Nauseating.

    13
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:46 PM

    @Larkin About: Bot Bot Bot. So predictable with fake indignation.

    7
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:48 PM

    @Larkin About: Army council of course. Great knowledge of medical procedures such as kneecapping.

    12
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:51 PM

    @Larkin About: Bot duo for SF. Infantile!

    8
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    Mute Zlim Jody
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    Mar 8th 2020, 7:05 AM

    @David Glynn: I’m waiting 300 days for a first appointment over a disc sticking on a nerve in my back.

    4
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    Mute john s
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    Mar 8th 2020, 7:35 AM

    @Larkin About: fair point . I am only agreeing with the chief medical officer for the state who has the overall picture and facts rather than doctor’s who do not. That makes me a bad person. I should just bow to minority thinkers like yourself. Next thing you’ll be telling me SF should run the country even though they got no where near enough support to do so.

    7
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    Mute Mark Gough
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:00 PM

    The 3 women tds that lost their seats did so because they were useless.

    317
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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:12 PM

    @Mark Gough: Wonder if they lost their seats because they were up against Sinn Féin candidates?

    46
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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:33 PM

    @Mark Gough: zappone the phoney

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    Mute alan
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    Mar 7th 2020, 8:09 PM

    @Bennett blaster: the female candidates lost their seats because they were no good. Look at the list. A rather obvious lack of ability there. Yet the male candidates who were every bit as hopeless didn’t lose. And when like Deirdre Clune down in cork who is the absolute epitome of worthlessness got elected to the eu (she is so poor that even Phil hogan didn’t welcome her to the eu last week). Gender issue is interesting and complex.

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    Mute john s
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:17 PM

    @alan: gender issue is complex when there is loads of women there to be elected in every constituency and half the electorate are women yet they they don’t take half the seats . Is it the voters vote for the best candidate?

    19
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    Mute David Dunne
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    Mar 7th 2020, 6:58 PM

    Leo , Going to U S on travel junket, When we face the worst Health Crisis , Probably ever .
    He should be here at least , trying put a government in place .

    179
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    Mute Gordon Comstock
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:04 PM

    @David Dunne: “worst Health Crisis , Probably ever .”

    Do you do the unhinged hysteria thing full time or is it just a weekend hobby?

    115
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:07 PM

    @Gordon Comstock: Another fake account!

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    Mute Justice Mickey
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:22 PM

    @Colette Kearns:
    Doctor Gordon comstock with a diploma in trolling.

    39
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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:30 PM

    @David Dunne: Bet you’re huddled inside a toilet roll fortress, covered in sanitizer

    15
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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:09 PM

    Jobs for the boys or in this case the failed ghurls…

    104
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    Mute paul kelly
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:24 PM

    Can someone explain how Catherine Noone got a nomination ahead of Kate O”Connell,
    I am no fan of Kate , especially of her mad support for the Childrens hospital , but surely she is better than Noone?

    34
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    Mute frank mcglynn
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:45 PM

    @paul kelly: No she is not. For all Noone’s faults she has to be better than O’Connell, an arrogant egotist who abandoned her friend when she got into a spot of bother.

    53
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    Mute DB
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    Mar 7th 2020, 7:58 PM

    Let’s not forget we had a chance to get rid of senate not so long ago.. and fools that we are we voted to keep.No point whinging about it now.It’s now what it was then a Gravey train for all failed politicians

    46
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    Mute nelliekel
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    Mar 7th 2020, 8:27 PM

    @DB: and the very person who voted and campaigned for it to be abolished is now looking to be nominated for it is Ruth Coppinger amazing how they show real colors for own pockets

    67
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    Mute Sylvia O'Regan
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    Mar 7th 2020, 8:29 PM

    @DB:

    It’ll be generations before we get another chance at getting rid of it. What did people expect? It wasn’t an EU referendum. The Seanad acts as a barrier to entry to Irish politics by keeping rejects from leaving the political arena and holding them in reserve for future elections. It protects them against competition, but only those who are loyal to the party are protected.

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    Mute John Considine
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:07 PM

    @DB: gravy

    6
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    Mute Pete Gilmartin
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    Mar 7th 2020, 9:32 PM

    @DB: Your spelling and grammar is appalling. Amazing you misspelled gravy.

    6
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    Mute Roger Dawson
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    Mar 7th 2020, 10:28 PM

    @DB: NOW NOW DB let have another vote and see what happens
    Surely we wont make the same mistake twice==will we

    4
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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Mar 7th 2020, 10:59 PM

    Tony O brien was head of the HSE and he was a disaster so why should we believe the new chief

    18
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    Mute Jim O Connor
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    Mar 8th 2020, 2:55 AM

    @Ian James Burgess: stupid comment

    2
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    Mute Agenda21
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    Mar 8th 2020, 6:58 AM

    @Jim O Connor: Why?

    5
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    Mute David Shiels
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    Mar 7th 2020, 11:30 PM

    I seem to remember that the appointment of a certain number of senate members is the perogative of thr Taoiseach. That will be fun.

    9
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    Mute Agenda21
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    Mar 8th 2020, 4:10 AM

    No such thing as some validity. It’s either valid or not, it’s like saying something is slightly illegitimate but legitimate at the same time. More nonsense

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    Mute Agenda21
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    Mar 8th 2020, 6:51 AM

    @Agenda21: your marvellous masters will have to see cents and put people first, which includes themselves above the short sighted neoliberalism capitalism horsey nonsense today or tmrw.. As they say, jesus wept. Anyone who can’t see through this classist madness is a paid govbot. Stop allowing people, tax payers be abused by paid civil servant’s to disagree with what you and the main want. A lot of people protesting about the status qou pay these fools wages.. Never pay your enemy’s fee

    2
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