Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)

It is okay. I will forgive him this time. There is no problem on that. He underlined the importance of it. We wrote to over 80 primary schools in County Louth when it was announced because we believe it is a wonderful initiative. When I am visiting primary schools, I love to highlight it and encourage them to take part. I will say it again and make a shameless plug: schools have until March 2026 to make an application and submit an entry. It is with these small gestures that we build knowledge and understanding about who we are, our place in the world and how we can connect with each other on every possible level. It is a wonderful initiative.

I wish to reflect briefly on what Senators Lynch and O’Loughlin, as well as other Oireachtas Members, mentioned with regard to women’s rights. There is certainly a backlash over the past number of years in that regard. We are in a fragile position. It does not matter whether it is Europe. The Minister of State mentioned Europe but people can look to America or Africa and know that there is very much a backlash and regression. Rights that we took for granted and fought so hard for are being conceded. It is an important issue.

Since August 2025, 15 countries worldwide have signed up to commit to a foreign policy through a feminist lens. While I appreciate the Minister of State’s words today and I know the commitment by the Government to look to aid countries where there is devastation, sexual violence, etc., and to aid those women and children, which is of fundamental importance not just to them but to the development of their countries and for us in the future, it would send out a strong message as well if we too were to commit to looking at our foreign policy through a feminist lens.