Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Irish Rural Link. The Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, launched its annual report earlier in Buswells Hotel. Irish Rural Link does amazing work. I am not going to spend any time here setting out details of that work. We all know the critically important work it does in linking into communities, particularly isolated ones that need a bit of encouragement and networking.

The Tánaiste was also at the event earlier to launch the National Rural Network: Women in Agriculture Case Study. It is an amazing document. Those involved with producing it will be in Buswells Hotel until lunchtime. The document provides information on 14 women who have created very successful agricultural enterprises, including beetroot production, cheese production, wool, lavender enterprises, suckler herds, organics, eggs, lamb and beef. These are small, home-based enterprises. I acknowledge the important work of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Dr. Maura Farrell from the University of Galway who wrote the report. It is a showcase of successful women entrepreneurs in agriculture across rural Ireland. I commend it to the House.

Today is also EU anti-trafficking day. This morning we had an all-party Oireachtas briefing from Sinéad Gibney, the chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Noeline Blackwell on the submissions on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023. What a tragedy that so many young girls, boys, women and men have been trafficked across Europe, and particularly in and out of this country for the purposes of prostitution and slave labour. The links between nail bars and illegal activities and enterprises are being used to fence and bring in drugs. When people are vulnerable there are a whole load of risks around that. I would like to commend Deputy Gary Gannon in particular for organising the briefing. We will have an opportunity to contribute to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill in due course.

I thank the Green Party for bringing forward their Private Member's business on women's menstrual health and HRT. It is a really important issue. I fully support it. Unfortunately, I will not be here this evening to partake in the debate. I wish those in the Green Party well with the motion. I think they will have well-deserved support across the House.