A large majority of women TDs and senators believe that Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is a victim of sexism, an extensive survey carried out by the Sunday Tribune reveals.

Labour TD Kathleen Lynch last week said that while Coughlan "hadn't done an extraordinarily good job", there was "a little bit of sexism" in the criticism of her and that "I am not certain that type of criticism would occur if it were a man".

The Sunday Tribune made contact with 29 of the 35 female Oireachtas members and 20 of them (69%) agreed with Lynch's assessment. Just nine (31%) disagreed. Support for Lynch's comments came from all parties.

Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said that while Coughlan's performance was "not in any way adequate", there was an "element of sexism to some of the attacks on the Tánaiste". She said there was "a certain sense of male clubbiness" in the Dáil which was "quite a cold place for women".

Fianna Fáil TD Margaret Conlon said: "When women TDs enter a room they are looked up and down. People look at your shoes, your clothes, your hair and your make-up and it is commented upon. The leader of Fine Gael commented upon Mary Coughlan's tangerine col-oured outfit one morning and that would not have happened to a man."

Green Party deputy leader Mary White spoke of the Dáil being an "old boys' club". However, Labour TD Roisin Shortall argued that Coughlan was "performing very badly in a critical ministry and the criticism is justified".