Social Democrats and Sinn Féin criticise inclusion of just three women in cabinet of new taoiseach Micheál Martin

The number of women in the Irish cabinet has fallen from four to three, dealing a further blow to the country’s reputation on gender equality in politics.

“There are now as many men named James in the cabinet as there are women,” the Social Democrat TD (MP) Jennifer Whitmore said, after the 15-member cabinet was announced by the new taoiseach (prime minister), Micheál Martin, on Thursday.