Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am coming to a question. It makes that very worthwhile promotion in the senior ranks by Fine Gael look like mere tokenism for women. If we are serious about organisational change, our leaders must lead by example. When we come back in the autumn, I am looking for a debate about gender in politics and whether having women leading in politics means anything at all.

Does it mean anything to have women in senior and junior Cabinet positions in order that they can be at the table? After all, 51% of the population are women and surely we need to have their perspective reflected in our decision making. I, therefore, ask the Leader to table a motion on this matter in the autumn. It matters to all of the men here, too, as they have wives or partners and daughters. It is about the Ireland we want to have and that is what this Parliament is about.