A Fianna Fáil frontbencher says the party is facing internal 'resistance' to meeting the 30 per cent gender quota target.

Public Expenditure Spokesperson Sean Fleming was speaking after last night's selection convention in Longford - during which members protested after Connie Gerety-Quinn was added to the General Election ticket because of a gender directive issued by Fianna Fail HQ.

The Women For Election group says quotas are the right way to get more female candidates in politics and is rejecting suggestions of tokenism.

Richard Chambers reports: