Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also thank Ms Hinds for her contribution. She touched on a significant number of issues about which we need to think more. She certainly informed our debate. It will make me think far more about society overall and what we should be doing, particularly in terms of women's rights, access and so on. It is a small point but 40% of candidates at the next general election in the South must be female. I agree that it should be 50% but it is a big step up from what it was before. There are changes taking place. In my county, the chief executive of Louth County Council is female, as were two or three of her predecessors. There is a lot of progress being made in my county at least.