Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the introduction of the Bill and the opportunity to contribute to what has been so far a very important and interesting debate on the matters contained in it, and on some matters outside of the purview of the Bill itself. I have engaged with the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan, as the Minister for Education and Skills on parliamentary questions and Adjournment matters but this is my first occasion to engage with her on a legislative matter. I welcome her to the Department and I think she will make a great go of it. I also think, at the risk of being deemed sexist, that it is a Department which suits a woman. I do not care what the Deputies all say; I believe it.

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