Brendan Ryan (Labour)

This country was embarrassed approximately two years ago when we were de facto suspended from the parliamentary forum of the Council of Europe because there was not a single female member on the delegation. The more enlightened European view was that we would not be allowed to vote. We acted because we were told to not because we were asked as I am sure this did not arise out of the blue. It was decided there were other reasons to ignore it. All the political parties ignored it. My parliamentary party is 40% female which is unique in Irish politics and we did not nominate a woman. I am not making a party political point but it was done because that body is regarded as one of the rewards for silent backbenchers or disappointed frontbenchers, I am not sure which.