Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

With regard to ordering Private Members' business, I have been Acting Chairman during Friday sittings, and it is notable that at present only Government speakers are available although we are debating and Opposition Bill. The Ceann Comhairle's proposal that the speaking order should be on the basis of Members indicating would probably make sense.

I wish to pick up a point made by Deputy Pringle. He stated that because the Technical Group seems to have a high representation of women it somehow means we have a good record of women running as independent candidates, but in fact this is not the case. In the general election of 2011, 9% of independent candidates were women and 18% of political party candidates were women. The Socialist Party ran only 12% women candidates, but returned 50% representation with one male and one female Deputy. Deputy Pringle had his facts wrong.

I understand why Fianna Fáil has tabled the Bill. It is not so much about laudable intentions but rather reputation salvaging, the need to be seen to be women friendly, and trying to appeal to women voters. After the last election Fianna Fáil returned no women Deputies which is not great for the party, particularly when one considers the women representatives it has had over the years who held very important positions and were very good representatives. It is understandable Fianna Fáil would table this Bill given this predicament.

I wonder whether Fianna Fáil would have tabled the Bill had it run its proposals past women politicians who have given birth while being elected representatives. Many women Deputies and Senators, including former Fianna Fáil representatives, have had children while being Members of the Oireachtas. Many women councillors have also had children.

The Bill is very much framed in the old-fashioned view that it is the woman's role, so the woman must leave the Dáil when she has a child, but it makes no reference to fathers. I welcome the Chief Whip's comments in that regard. I wonder, however, if those framing this legislation would have tabled this Bill had they first put themselves in the shoes of women TDs and thought about the practical implications of what they were proposing.

Does Deputy Calleary really think it is realistic for a woman TD to take leave for up to six months as a parent?

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