Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

He is a board member of a State organisation whose wages are paid out of the staggering €19.2 million the industry will receive in 2021. He is paid by the taxpayer, by all of us. I was not deeply hurt or offended by the man's comments - I will not say his name from now on. My initial reaction was to ignore it. I instinctively felt it did not deserve any energy or thought. Indeed, I did not want to waste my speaking time addressing it today. Yet, when a Fine Gael Deputy apologised for liking these sentiments I could not avoid the volume of calls I was getting from the media for a response.

The unfortunate reality of this situation is that I was not deeply hurt or offended because I am used to these kinds of gendered comments. Rightly, I do not take personal offence. Yet, in reality too many women are subject to too many comments which seek to demean and belittle. This offends all women. In the past week, in the context of the Social Democrats motion to reverse the increase in State funding to the industry, I have been referred to as "airy fairy", "a dangerous, dangerous woman" and "a fool". It would not be appropriate in this Chamber to recite some of the other language used. Women everywhere experience the same kind of everyday sexism in different ways every day. We are tired of it. As the only female Deputy in all of Cork city and county I feel the need to address the sexism that we are all so used to. I feel the need to put it on the Dáil record that a board member of a State organisation spoke about elected women in that way in 2020. I feel the need to say there can be no excuse for this because there is no excuse.

I have no wish to use my speaking time on this issue addressing this everyday sexism. Women all over Ireland, including myself, wish we did not need to address this at all. Yet, there is no alternative when we cannot ignore it. When we address this everyday sexism, we are often met with more of it. We hear things like "angry feminist", "you are too emotional" or "you should calm down". When we think about it, we should all be angry, emotional and uncalm about the reality that half of the population are still disregarded, patronised and condescended in so many ways. Instead, many of us are numb to it and that is even worse. The House needs to send a clear message to everyone that there needs to be zero tolerance for sexism.

The member of Greyhound Racing Ireland also claimed my remarks were "waffle". I wish to put on the Dáil record that none of my remarks were waffle. The opposite applies: they were all fact, based on research, much of which was done by Greyhound Racing Ireland. He has not challenged any of those facts; he has only challenged my personality and pointed out my gender. I wish to take this opportunity to invite this member of the Greyhound Racing Ireland to take part in a debate about the facts I have raised relating to the greyhound racing industry, the viability of the industry, the animal welfare issues associated with the industry and the public disquiet about the State funding. I imagine a broadcaster would be happy to facilitate this and I would be happy to arrange it.

One important thing to note is that although the Social Democrats motion was defeated last week, we have another opportunity to finally put an end to the State turning a blind eye to the industry's flaws and more money at its failings. It says a great deal that the industry and public representatives simply do not have a legitimate argument - I have yet to hear one from any Member.

Last week, I highlighted many concerning aspects about this industry, including the frightening levels of animal cruelty, the extraordinary cost to the taxpayer and the staggering loss-making nature of the industry. There is extraordinary public support for an end to the State propping up this highly problematic industry and shielding it from commercial realities. The industry receives extraordinary sums of money from the public purse while breeding 6,000 dogs annually to kill them. The vast majority of the general public cannot understand why Government continues to blatantly ignore common sense on this issue. Not only does our Government plan to continue funding it - to my surprise this plan was supported by all Government parties, Sinn Féin and the Labour Party - it is also increasing funding by €2.4 million. This will bring the total allocation in the 2021 budget to €19.2 million. It does not have to be this way. It is scandalous, unacceptable and indefensible.

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