Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It sends out a message that this institution is not serious about gender equality and which states clearly that party politics comes before gender equality. I remind people that we are not a Masonic lodge and it does not say in the little black book that we have to elect a man every time. No disrespect is intended to the men who have been elected, including the Cathaoirleach, but we have an opportunity here to elect a strong, capable woman. Sinn Féin will keep putting forward strong, capable women for positions of leadership in this House until we either get a woman elected or force other parties into putting forward women in the House. There are many strong, capable women in this House who deserve to be there.