A motion aimed at ensuring greater female participation in the Teachers’ Union of Ireland leadership has been rejected by members. Women currently comprise 70 per cent of the organisation’s membership, but hold just four out of 22 positions on the union’s executive.

In a heated debate at the union’s congress this morning, one speaker called the TUI’s executive “an old boy’s club” and said to delegates: “Look around you. Count the women. Easy, isn’t it?”

Two female delegates said that they had been interested in receiving a branch nomination for the TUI but that they had not been told of a vacancy; the position went to a man. Another delegate told The Irish Times that women were experienced in the TUI but were not getting nominations, while men were "getting a tap on the shoulder and running unopposed".

Several women speakers said they felt that providing additional support to women was patronising and that they had been successful as representatives in the TUI without receiving any special concessions. Delegates were particularly critical of the 2008 Pillinger Report, which laid out five methods to increase female participation.

In particular, delegates spoke against gender quotas and a “zipper system”, which would see representative positions switch from male to female on an annual basis. A number of women spoke against the motion, while no men spoke in favour of the motion.

Bernie Ruane, one of just two female past presidents in the union’s history, expressed disappointment at the decision of delegates. “I hope there will be changes to bring more gender balance to the TUI,” she said following the vote. “It is vital that the TUI fairly reflects it s membership but, if anything, the representation of women is dropping.”