The comments come after tense exchanges between Ms Mitchell O’Connor and Fine Gael colleagues at a party meeting this week over the lack of jobs in rural Ireland.

One senior minister said the meeting turned “nasty” after Ms Mitchell O’Connor gave a presentation using her mobile phone and some members turned on her. Several TDs and senators have told the Irish Examiner the presentation was “ill-prepared” and “unsatisfactory”, as was the minister’s reaction when Fine Gael colleagues raised issues.

Exchanges between Ms Mitchell O’Connor and Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin as well as with Clare TD Joe Carey were described as like “fireworks”. They and other members focused on the lack of job creation in their constituencies. Party members “tore strips” out of the jobs minister, sources said, after she praised her department.

Mayo senator Michelle Mulherin was one who voiced her concern. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Sen Mulherin explained: “There’s very little employment growth outside Galway. There’s a regional imbalance, we need more of a kickstart.”

The senator said the minister’s presentation on Wednesday night was “adequate”. She agreed some members were “frustrated” but said some references to the meeting were “unfair”. Ms Mulherin said the minister has “firmly grabbed the baton” since her appointment.

Michelle Mulherin

But Ms Mulherin also claimed criticism is being levelled against Ms Mitchell O’Connor because of her gender: “From the outset in office, only because she is a woman has she been criticised. There’s no doubt, some of the attitude is because of her gender. I don’t know if I would put it as sexism, it’s not just in Fine Gael. There’s a different attitude to women, rather than just men.”

But this was dismissed by other Fine Gael parliamentary members.

Dublin South Bay TD Kate O’Connell said: “People didn’t get answers. If she faced down the criticism, she would have been grand. It’s essential backbenchers like myself get answers from any minister of whatever. The fact the minister tried to leave a few times created difficulties. I wouldn’t have considered last night happened because of sexism. I don’t think she was treated any differently because she is a woman. If a male minister said he had to leave, he would have had equal difficulties. If a man did the same, he would have got the same hassle.”

Ms Mitchell O’Connor has not returned calls. However, speaking to Galway Bay FM yesterday, she said: “As a Galway girl, it’s hard to tear strips off somebody [me]. The issue is about making sure that we create jobs and our target is 200,000 by 2020. I’m absolutely focused on that.”

Another Fine Gael female member, who did not want to be named, said criticisms aimed at Ms Mitchell O’Connor had “nothing to do with her being a woman”.

However, Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone disagreed: “I think certainly women have their issues in terms of being taken seriously across the board in politics and Mary would have that issue as well.”