Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I noted with concern in recent weeks that five female Fine Gael councillors have announced that they do not intend to run in the next local elections. At a time when we are actively pursuing policies to encourage women to get involved in politics it seems there is a parallel problem of keeping women in politics, particularly women of my generation. Three of the five mentioned are about my age and four of them are coming to the end of their first term. There are various reasons people decide not to run, and it may be a coincidence, but there appears to be a need for an examination of the factors causing women already active in politics to opt out after one term. While we ponder how we will encourage more females into politics we should also examine how we can encourage them to remain in politics. That is a facet of the debate that might be worth discussing in the House.

I join Senators Mooney and MacSharry in their comments about Lissadell House. I would encourage the two owners of Lissadell House to open it to the public. They did huge work, as Senator Mooney said, in restoring the House and with great enthusiasm. I know them both personally and have had many discussions about the work they did and the efforts they made to get original pieces of art and furniture that belonged to the house back to it, and all the other issues Senator Mooney mentioned. It is not my area but now that the case is behind everyone I hope something can be done in that regard because it is a significant building in the north west.