Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I agree with Senator White on the role of women in farming. I made a point of speaking at the women in farming conference organised by the IFA last year. To be perfectly honest it was a fantastic conference and a very good experience and I got much good feedback from it. All of the research on women's involvement in the running of a farm business shows if two business partners - a man and a woman - run a farm, the productivity and profitability of the farm is significantly higher than if there is not.

The role of Irish women in agriculture is often underestimated and understated. If the Senator has a specific case that she wishes to raise with me-----