Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I am asking the question. We are seeking to solve the problem of low female participation rates by placing an imposition on political parties. I am asking whether we are seeking to solve the wrong problem.

I go back to the question of culture. Senator Power said that the quota regime which we are putting in place will hopefully lead to a change in culture. I would like to see that process happening in reverse. I mentioned some of the strong, powerful women who have played leading roles in politics internationally. One of those I forgot to mention is a woman who served with me in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann and was, during my time in the Oireachtas, by far the strongest, most powerful and most effective voice for women. I am referring to the late Nuala Fennell who was an outstanding representative and a kind, generous and warm lady. One of the reasons hers was the strongest voice was it was not bitter or divisive, rather it was inclusive, which forced us to look at the difficult options and take the necessary steps to resolve issues.

The question of culture is so important in this debate. I was reading the late Nuala Fennell's biography recently. She was forced to resign from the Irish Women's Liberation Movement, a movement in which she had played such a significant role during its formative years. Her letter of resignation stated, "For one thing it has proved that Irish women, for all the discrimination and deprivation they suffer, are not the nation of blinkered female donkeys that the small policy-making central group of women's liberationists thought them to be." That is very interesting and a challenge to look beyond simplistic, sloganeering solutions and recognise that this is a much more complex problem than we think it is and that can be resolved by minor legislation. Her letter of resignation further stated, "At a recent seminar it was clearly stated that if any member, whatever her previous views, was not against the aforementioned Bill, she was not in Women's Lib, and to this I can add that if you are not anti-American, anti-clergy, anti-government, anti-ICA, anti-police, anti-men, then, sisters, there is no place for you either." That is a piece of writing on which we need to reflect. We should not try to put people into simplistic, caged in categories.