Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

Today is International Women's Day. We have seen the hullabaloo in the press in recent days about the Trócaire advertisement and the issue of young women in African countries. It is the responsibility of those of us who are lucky enough to be in government in first world countries to examine our responsibility and the role of women in politics and government. I ask the Deputy Leader and the Leader to arrange a debate on the role of women in government to ascertain whether there is anything we can propose before we end this session. Who knows where any of us will be in six months time? I certainly do not.

There is a very important role for women in political life. We do not have maternity leave or child friendly policies. We need to make changes in the institutions. If private business can make changes to facilitate family-friendly work practices then these institutions ought to also. I seek a debate on this matter before the end of the session.