Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The essence of this day is being undermined by the Government's superficial gestures and lack of substantial support for women. The Government's decision to hold a referendum on gender on International Women's Day is a disheartening example of this trend. This move, rather than being a genuine effort to uplift women, appears to be a cynical and hollow gimmick. It reduces a potential constitutional amendment, a matter deserving of serious consideration, to a symbolic gesture. There is little to acknowledge the enormous contributions women make to our society. Such exploitation of International Women's Day is a disgraceful act that the Government should be ashamed of.

One of the most unusual things you could ever see, and I am sure the Ceann Comhairle has seen it himself, is the absolute look of bewilderment, horror and confusion when people have a camera put in front of them, particularly male politicians, and they are asked, "Could you please tell us, what is a woman?" They look horrified, and the one thing they cannot give is a proper explanation because they are afraid, due to political correctness, that they will say something wrong. They look completely bewildered when they are asked what a woman is. I will never have a difficulty in explaining exactly what a woman is to a cameraman if I was asked the question.

I do have this to say. One thing that always upset and confused me very much was, even in politics, the way political parties put a monetary price on the target they have to have for women candidates. I always said that was a massive insult to women. I believed it was demeaning of women that we have parties running candidates just because of the money they can get if they hit certain criteria. I thought that was always wrong and I never supported it. If women want to run for politics, they will, and the people who have done so in the past have been excellent and have made a great contribution.

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