Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I want to commend all the witnesses. I spoke to them earlier. We need to pave a way forward and show that there are lots of good things and lots of positivity happening around agriculture in Ireland.

We need to pave a way forward and show that there are many good things happening and much positivity in agriculture in Ireland. Unfortunately, women were airbrushed into the background for generations but we are seeing a change. Coming from the rural constituency of Laois-Offaly, I can certainly see changes. I have visited the local agriculture college, which is Gurteen in north Tipperary, and more and more young women are going in to do agricultural courses. There is a change. The project the university is running is very worthwhile. In fact, it is invaluable in empowering women, creating a platform and highlighting all of the positivity. I have been reading some of the contributions from the women involved. One of them is a constituent of mine, Anne Marie Feighery, who lives not too far away from me in Offaly. There are fantastic things happening. That is the only way we will be able to empower the next generation of young women and pave the way forward.

I commend the witnesses. They are doing fantastic work. They are really instilling confidence in women as regards leadership and everything else. Of course, there are barriers and we have to overcome those. I have no doubt that, in time, if we keep chipping away collectively, we will see a change. I dip into this agriculture committee. I am on the higher education committee but, every time there is a calamity facing farmers in Laois or Offaly, I end up coming in here. It is great to be in here today when there is positivity rather than a calamity in forestry or something like that. It is great that the witnesses are here. They are doing tremendous work. It is certainly very valuable and will pave the way forward.

We have seen many women taking up leadership roles. I have met Elaine Houlihan, president of Macra na Feirme, on a number of occasions. I have no doubt that she will inspire her generation of young women to step forward and take up those roles. That is very important because women did not take up these roles for years. They just stayed in the background. They may have been happy to stay in the background. I am not sure why. However, it was the case that they were very much background operators. They did a great deal of work on the farm but did not get the credit or recognition for that work so it is fantastic to see this. There is definitely change happening. I wish the witnesses well with their endeavours. If there is anything I can do to assist at any time as a TD, I am happy to do it.