David Norris (Independent)

I knew Nuala Fennell well. When I came into the House, I thought the Senator was talking about Nuala O'Faolain and nearly dropped dead at the throught she might have said such a thing. Then I thought Nuala was always such a wonderful contrarian. I spoke at meetings of the Irish Women's Liberation Movement and presume it had a vague notion that I was a man of some sort. There was an idea that it was anti-man, anti-Irish Countrywomen's Association, anti-police and anti-America. We are all familiar with the notion that if one criticises American foreign policy, one is anti-American. It is a load of rubbish about a woman who, despite her sterling qualities, was essentially conservative. It is important to make the point that she was making a highly coloured statement, but it is a wonderful quotation. I gather it was on the forcible entry Bill, but I do not believe it applies in this instance. I would be surprised, conservative though she was, if Nuala Fennell would have wished it to apply in these circumstances. The Irish Women's Liberation Movement, like all such movements, as I know to my cost, contains extremists who are not representative of the whole movement. Without women's liberation, we would not have the degree of participation we have.

I also spoke to the Women's Political Association. I launched a book for Senator Ivana Bacik, although I was a man. Does the Senator remember that I launched the book?