Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she was nervous about becoming leader of the party.
She said that being leader is a "huge undertaking", and feels a sense of expectation that she can deliver in the role and do her job well.
The Dublin Central TD said it took her time to get in to her stride and to put her mark on the job but she says she is almost there.
Ms McDonald joined Aisling Kenny for a special edition of RTÉ's Your Politics Podcast to discuss the lack of women in politics, despite the introduction of gender quotas.
She said women are still a minority by a considerable margin in the Dáil and that the culture and feel of politics remains male dominated.
She also said the issue of maternity leave for women in politics needs to be addressed.
Ms McDonald said that female TDs do not get maternity leave like other workers and that they have to "make it up as they go along."
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