Aideen Hayden (Labour)

The Labour Party has a prouder record than any other political party in terms of women's participation in politics.

It is a pity Senator Rónán Mullen is no longer in the Chamber. I found it slightly offensive when he referred to this measure as representing a form of social engineering. The latter suggests a manipulating of outcomes, but that is not what this legislation is about. Rather, it is about presenting opportunities, namely, giving the people the opportunity to vote for a woman.