Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

That highlights Fianna Fáil policy regarding the participation of women. It is the choice of candidates, the parties and the public as to who gets elected and their gender. There is a constitutional provision that anybody can stand. The Minister said that the same people can stand for the Dáil and Seanad. Does he know that is not the case? One has to qualify for a Seanad panel, some people cannot run for certain panels and it is necessary to be nominated by various bodies or the Oireachtas. Anybody can run for the Dáil but that is not true of the Seanad.