The appointment of a man to lead 'Women for Election' sends out the message that there is no woman skilled enough to lead the organisation, according to a women’s rights activist.
Sligo–Leitrim Labour representative Bernie Linnane was speaking as the Women for Election group announced Brian Sheehan as their new CEO on Wednesday.
Mr Sheehan is former General-Secretary of the Social Democrats and was also the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, GLEN.
Absolutely no disrespect to @BrianSheeh but honestly there was no woman in the country who could do the job? @women4election bit of an own goal https://t.co/XCjc6LyUPd
— Regina Doherty (@ReginaDo) June 28, 2023
Ms Linnane told Newstalk Breakfast the appointment sends the wrong message.
"This fabulous organisation.... is designed primarily to encourage women to believe that they're good enough to go for election," she said.
"In other words, to encourage women to believe that they're good enough to do whatever they want to do.
"Then this message is sent out that there wasn't a woman good enough to lead the organisation".
No disrespect, but this is women for election to be led by a man it defeats the purpose.
If we can't see it. We can't be it.@women4election#CountHerIn https://t.co/n4EiL762az— Linda #RespectForSNAs (@lindaosull88) June 28, 2023
Ms Linnane said she has nothing against Mr Sheehan, who she called “a fantastic person”.
"We have been told forever that the best person for the job is a man," she said.
"There are only one-in-eight female CEOs in this country.
"This is about optics, it's about a message that is sent out.
"Role modelling is so very important, especially for younger women.
"The mantra 'If you can see it, you can be it'.
"What if you can't see it?
"What if the person who is the face of this organisation, which is designed to empower women, is actually a man?"
Ah here. I know a good number if women across the political spectrum who are active in campaigns & parties who would have better insights as to what its like to run for election https://t.co/qagCc4Makp
— Richard Collumb / Річард Коллам 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@collumbo) June 28, 2023
Asked if the result was more important than the optics, Ms Linnane said: "The optics are hugely important in politics, because so much of politics is about perception.
"I find it difficult to believe that there is no woman who can come up with ideas which can help women get elected.
"Women for Election encouraged me to believe that - they showed me fantastic women speakers, fantastic women activists, fantastic women role models who would lead you to believe that women can do anything.
"And yet we couldn't find one with good enough ideas to lead this organisation".
"I do think this was a misstep by an otherwise excellent organisation, but I wouldn't write the organisation off because of it," she added.
