The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) has launched a women in accountancy working party, to look after the needs of women accountants, particularly those with family commitments. "We are hopeful that some of the career barriers might be identified in this working group and that we can find creative ways of enabling our women members to have long-term rewarding careers in the profession," said Mr Pierce Kent, president of ICAI.

Out of a total of 10,700 members, women account for 2,200. Mr Kent said "there is a long way to go for women to take their full place in the profession".

At the photocall announcing the setting up of the working party were (from left): Mr Kent, Sr Denis O'Neill (97), the second woman chartered accountant in Ireland and the oldest surviving woman member of the institute, and Ms Maxine Ruddy who, at 23, is the youngest woman member. When Ms Kathleen O'Neill (now Sr Denis O'Neill) was sent on country audits back in the 1920's, she usually did so in the company of married family men, "presumably to make her more acceptable to clients". the ICAI said.

After graduating with a commerce degree she joined Kean & Co and qualified in 1926. Her first audit was Mooneys public houses.