We can all encourage girls into politics: O’Dowd

In a letter published in today’s edition Mr O’Dowd wrote: “In last week’s edition you carried a short article under the heading ‘I’ve no plans to encourage girls into politics: O’Dowd.’

“I felt it would be useful to clarify my position on the matter as I believe your headline does not fairly reflect my position.”

He said he had outlined a range of programmes his Department was developing “to encourage girls into male dominated sectors such as construction, engineering and chemistry and indeed into the world of politics.”

Whilst acknowledging he had stated he had no plan to introduce a specific programme to encourage girls into politics in addition to the opportunities outlined, he wrote: “I am absolutely clear, however, that everyone in society has a role to play in encouraging girls to consider careers in areas where they remain under-represented.

“Young people should be able to make choices in life based on their aptitudes and preferences - not on their gender.

“The education system is working to widen the horizons of young girls and I would call on wider society, including our politicians, to help do likewise,” he stated.