Tom Barry’s moment of idiocy in Dáil Éireann a fortnight ago may, in the fullness of time, be recognised as a catalyst for a debate that, quite frankly, has been largely ignored by the media for far too long: sexism. Let me explain. My immediate, and in retrospect, incorrect reaction was to suggest that ‘Lapgate’ wasn’t that big a deal. I posted a message to that effect on Facebook, and within a few minutes, I’d been riposted, albeit politely and articulately by two of my former DIT Journalism School mates, both women and both in the employ of The Irish Times.
