Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It is a great privilege, as a female member of the Government, to contribute to this debate. I say that to highlight the fact that since the foundation of the State, and excluding Countess Markievicz who held office in the first Dáil, only 12 women have held ministerial office at Cabinet level. It is a particular honour to be in the presence of the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan, and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and to be taking on a role-----

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