A local senator says no-one should encounter abuse online.
Aisling Dolan's comments come following the issuing of a new report from the National Women's Council which finds female politicians face a torrent of online abuse
It calls for political parties to do more to support women in public office.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show the Fine Gael Senator believes representatives should be critiqued on their policies rather than their gender.
''It's not something that I've encountered frequently,but I do know of, you know, other colleagues who have had very difficult times and where it's not based on the content or policies, but on, you know, on being a woman, which it shouldn't, you know, shouldn't come into the equation should be based on your policies. It should be based on what you're discussing and your content. And I think that's where the challenges lie.''
