Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the appointment of the new US ambassador to Ireland. The post has been empty for approximately 18 months since Dan Rooney left it. It is a very welcome development. The relationship between Ireland and the USA is very important and the ambassadorial role is a key aspect of it.

Colleagues have referred to the banking inquiry. While I congratulate those who have been appointed to it, I am very disappointed that there is no woman among the nine members. I do not mean a woman should be appointed without regard to merit, but it shows that the wheels of power are slow to move, especially when it comes to gender balance. We talk of boards not having enough women on them. I do not often refer to women's issue and having more women on this that and the other, but it is disappointing that not one woman has been appointed among the nine. It is a damning indictment of politics today.