Education Minister Norma Foley has said that she does not let “personal abuse” on social media stop her from doing her job.
Speaking outside Government Buildings on International Women’s Day, the Fianna Fáil TD said that women should not be put off running for office by the prospect of receiving mean comments from anonymous trolls.
Comments are often made about Minister Foley’s dress sense and appearance on social media.
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She said that while she is aware of the abuse, she does not pay attention to it.
“In the main, I want to acknowledge that vitriolic abuse on social media is not unique to women,” Minister Foley told reporters.
“I would absolutely say there are many men receiving similar.
“I will say in terms of women, it's perhaps more personal. I'm very conscious of that myself. I see the difference there. I think many of my female colleagues will say the same.
“I don't allow it to deter me though. I think that would be a shame. That would be giving in. I absolutely believe that, fundamentally, we need to have women in politics.
“It is right in terms of diversity, in terms of decision making.
“It is right in terms of a reflection of society.
“Women should not and I don't believe women will be deterred by what happens on social media.
“What happens on social media oftentimes is anonymous. It's by people that [I] don't know, won't meet and is not absolutely not a reflection of the people that I meet every single day on a one-to-one basis. people I meet right throughout the country.”
Ms Foley encouraged women to get involved in politics, saying that she does “not regret a single day of public representation”.
She made the comments on International Women’s Day as the Government announced a referendum on a woman’s place in the home.
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