Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

No. I am saying there are actual biological differences between men and women. They give rise to different viewpoints and to a richness, beauty and fun. I believe the world would be far more boring without us.

The report brings out well the barriers women face in politics. It mentions child care, cash, confidence and culture. There is also a big barrier to being a woman in politics. While one may have strong views in one's own right as a citizen, to be a woman in politics presents a different challenge because - loth as I am to say it - one is in a man's world and surrounded largely by men. I found myself at cumann meetings at which I was the only female present. This was a frequent occurrence seven or eight years ago. The men present at the meetings would turn around to face the other men because it was so unusual for a woman to be there that they did not know how to behave. It takes much courage for a woman to enter the world of politics.

Child care is a tough issue. The day on which I first stood at a convention was the first birthday of my youngest child, but I did not dare to mention this because people would have whispered about why I was not at home minding my child. On one occasion when my husband was canvassing on my behalf in 2002, he was asked who was minding my children. His response was that I had a family, as well as a husband. This is an example of the culture that must be overcome by women.

In terms of making the Houses a more friendly place for women to be successful-----