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THE NATIONAL Women’s Council has sharply criticised women TDs who oppose gender quotas to increase the number of women selected as election candidates.

Chief executive of the council Susan McKay said: “This ‘I’m alright Jill’ attitude shows a sad lack of solidarity with other women.” Her comments follow a survey by The Irish Timesof the 23 women in the 166-seat Dáil which found a majority opposed quotas to increase women’s representation. Fourteen, including all three women in Cabinet positions, are against quotas while eight are in favour of candidate quota legislation. One TD is undecided.