Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to get a chance to speak on the impact of Covid-19 on women for International Women's Day. I have been lucky to know some great and gifted women in my lifetime. We have seen in the past 12 months how our medical professionals, most of them women, have been to the fore in tackling the Covid-19 crisis. Some are doctors and others are nurses, carers and home helps. They have suffered bravely to save the lives of so many. It saddened me to see how student nurses, many of them women, were treated by our Government. It refused to give them a pay rise.

On International Women's Day, we must remember all the great women who have gone before us. I read recently of Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll from west Cork, sister of the great General Michael Collins. She left west Cork and won a seat in Dublin North and still raised 14 children. It is women like her who shaped this country.

My own childhood heroes were Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Lady Diana of Wales. These were two people who shaped the world differently. While the life of the latter was cut short, she, in her short life, touched the world with kindness and care. Mother Teresa saved tens of thousands of lives with her steely determination to help and care.

I have always looked up to modern-day female heroes. Consider the massive fight that Vera Twomey has taken up not only for her daughter but also for every other person who suffers intolerable pain in this country and who is in need of medicinal cannabis. Vera has moved mountains to overcome intolerable, nonsensical blockages. While she has still to climb over more hurdles, it looks like the State has woken up and is now standing up to its responsibilities. This would never have happened but for Vera Twomey, this truly great woman. I saw today on social media that, four years ago, she had to walk from Cork to Dublin in protest to try to fight for the cause for many of the ordinary people of this country, including her daughter Ava.

When I talk about great women, I should refer to one of west Cork's greatest businesswoman of all time, namely, Colette Twomey, famous for Clonakilty black pudding. She has overseen the growth of Clonakilty Food Company with her family. The food product is well known and second to none, as well I know because I sample it every morning. Although Colette been part of the building of her great company and creating good jobs in Clonakilty, she still devotes her time to the community and voluntary sector. Down through the years, she has done so for the people of Clonakilty and beyond.

I have been lucky to see great sportspeople like Lily de la Cour from Bantry, a kick-boxing champion who has given joy to so many spectators down through the years. The discipline she has shown in her sport is staggering. This leads me on to the greatest sportsperson Ireland has ever produced, namely, Katie Taylor, from Bray. One could not get enough time to speak about this astonishing sportsperson and her focus on her sport. The respect she has for others is staggering. She has to be one of Ireland's greatest female sportspersons of all time. Of course she is loved by the people of her native town, Bray. Her return to the Martello Hotel, Bray, a hotel of excellence, when the pandemic ends is greatly anticipated.

Another woman who deserves greater recognition in this country is Kathy Sinnott. Kathy is a long-term advocate for children with special needs. She has spoken out and focused on these lovely children and their needs.

These women, many of whom are from west Cork, are but a few who have changed the course of Irish history and who have not sought too much limelight for doing so. The approach to Covid-19 and the treatment of women leave a lot to be desired in this country. I hope that, in time, people will respect the women for the way in which they have respected the people of this country.

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