Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for the clarity of her response. The battle for equality in terms of employment for women has been a very long battle and it is not over. On the notion that Ministers would revert to practices that we really thought were gone, I do not think anyone in any interview situation would begin to believe one could ask those sorts of questions now. This level of clarity might be something positive to emerge from this debacle, and I thank the Tánaiste for that. There should be no ambivalence in regard to the type of questions that are appropriate because other employers will look at and take signals from this. I welcome what the Tánaiste has said. I ask her to go further and be crystal clear that the whole process of ensuring complete equality in terms of employment and interview processes will be maintained, not only in the public service but across the entire employment sphere.

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