Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

She had her own reasons for resigning. All I can say is that a very successful conference was held in Dublin Castle to address serious issues to give women an opportunity to engage in electoral politics to a far greater extent. The Government is committed to women's rights and ensuring greater participation in a broad range of areas. The Deputy might have noticed in the many appointments I have made that there has been a substantial gender rebalancing in the context of ensuring an equal number of men and women are appointed. I have been redressing imbalances in some areas in which clearly there has been a substantial number of men in circumstances where there are women available who are equally qualified. We will continue to work along these lines to achieve objectives. There is no reason the National Women's Council, as an advocacy and research body, with the funding available to it, cannot fully meet all of its commitments in 2012 and 2013.

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