Sir, - Medb Ruane's conclusion in her column of June 16th that "Ahern's clear message is that women aren't worth it" is correct, but not surprising.
This is a Taoiseach who has successfully returned his Government party to Dáil Éireann because he led an astutely tuned campaign that backed winners, followed his focus groups' opinions and, in Cabinet appointments, did not show any ideological need to sacrifice his male colleagues' support just to prove that gender balance really matters to him.
Research suggests that Irish women vote quite comfortably for men. Michael Marsh and Paul Mitchell in their study "How Ireland Voted in 1997" conclude that the most successful candidates are those with "the political potential of the standard income-earning, middle-aged male." If all that concerns our Taoiseach is returning to power, why should he change his attitude to women?
Unless and until a new wave of enthusiasm is generated into a national campaign that can harness support for women candidates, there is no obvious reason why the political parties should single out women candidates for preferment. After all, the anti-establishment parties, Sinn Féin and the Greens, were very successful in electing just male colleagues to Dáil Éireann.
Who wants "a fair balance between men and women in matters of political power"? Hardly the electorate. - Is mise,
Cllr NIAMH BHREATHNACH, Blackrock, Co Dublin.