Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment to the Order of Business, calling for a debate today on women's participation in politics. The Leader promised us such a debate this week. As yesterday was International Women's Day, it would be timely to have such a debate this week. As the House is well aware, last October the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights produced a unanimous all-party report on improving women's participation in politics. The report contains a number of important recommendations and the committee has requested that both Houses of the Oireachtas debate it. I ask the Leader to ensure we will that have debate in this House. The Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, is committed to participating in it and anxious that it be held. It was promised for this week, in particular, because of International Women's Day. It will be an historic debate in that the issue has never been debated on the floor of either House of the Oireachtas. The committee will be debating the report tomorrow in recognition of International Women's Day, but it is a pity the Seanad is not doing so today.

I also support Senator O'Toole's call for a change in the law to allow licensed premises to open on Good Friday. It is an anomaly that we do not allow them to open on that day.