Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I seek a debate in the House with the Minister in charge of the equality brief. The Leader might be aware of the landmark judgment earlier this week by the Equality Tribunal which ruled in favour of a woman being promoted in a university in a case dating from 2009. Since the judgment I have been contacted by upwards of 15 women who also failed to be promoted. Apparently, the judgment says they now have a right to be promoted. This is an issue for all universities. It appears that 70% of promotional posts go to men and only 30% to women. It is an issue worth teasing out with the Minister. Apparently, we are the lowest in Europe when it comes to the promotion of women at university level. There is a glass ceiling and this has been a landmark victory for a very brave woman who is a descendant of one of the suffragettes. It has happened in my own backyard, and since the judgment, between 15 and 20 women have asked me to raise the matter. I would be grateful if the Leader would organise a debate on gender equality and promotion for women. We are always talking about getting women into senior management roles and we must do something about it. I look forward to the Leader's response.