Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to be able to make a contribution to the statements on International Women's Day.

It is important to recognise the extent to which women contribute, despite the fact that it is more and more difficult for them to contribute, at whatever level it might be. What is also important about these statements is that it is not an opportunity to score political points. I am disappointed that Deputy Réada Cronin chose this opportunity, instead of talking about the actual issues, to start to make political attacks. If Sinn Féin Deputies choose to do that, they should mend their own house first. If they want to talk about how comfortable parties are for women, let us look at how complaints within parties are dealt with when they come from women speaking about how they have been treated.

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