Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have to be in the Seanad at noon. I apologise that I will not be able to stay for the reply. I thank the three women for their contributions this morning. We all agree with absolutely everything that has been said here today. I do not think I have ever been as frustrated with the slow pace of Government. It is not just the Department of Education, although I know we are talking about education. The slow pace is across Government with regard to the societal changes that need to be implemented. Deputy Carroll MacNeill touched on it earlier. I wonder whether we will ever get the progress in and equality of access and opportunity that we need, for all our women and men and young girls and boys, if we do not have the support of men. The root of the slow pace of change is men liking society angled and favoured towards the patriarchy, the way it has been for years. I cannot find any other reason as to why there is such a slow pace of change. Dr. O'Sullivan is a legend. She is an absolute inspiration and a real representation of what we can see, we can be. I thank her.