Outspoken senator David Norris caused a stir yesterday after interrupting a speech from Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty. Norris shouted "the idea that someone who has been a member of this house has to listen to The Regina Monologues from somebody who’s not a wet week in this house, talking through her fanny - I object on the strongest possible basis".
Ms Doherty has said that she will make a formal complaint about incident, saying Norris' remarks were "sexist and deeply inappropriate".
Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O'Connor has expressed her opinion on the event, and also her views on the overall treatment of women in government houses. She spoke to Newstalk Breakfast:
Senator Norris describing a female TD as 'talking through her fanny' is neither scholarly, parliamentary nor witty! #havehadenough
— MaryMitchellOConnor (@mitchelloconnor) July 15, 2013
@pmcchambers Pauline we need respect for women in Dail .
— MaryMitchellOConnor (@mitchelloconnor) July 15, 2013
Accusations of sexism and inappropriate behaviour were also made last week during the late night Dail sittings on the proposed abortion legislation. TD Tom Barry sat party colleague Aine Collins on his lap during a break in the debate, with the incident widely reported by the media.
Do you think the Houses of the Oireachtas are too much of a 'boys' club'? Are female TDs and senators treated with the same respect as their male colleagues? Are the pair of recent events being blown out of proportion or representative of more fundamental problems? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.