Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Senator would. She was a Senator in the 1960s and 1970s before she was elected to the Dáil in 1977. It was through her and arising from an admiration for her that I came into politics. I will never forget what she had to undergo from sexist commentary by the male-dominated bear pit that was north Kerry politics in the 1960s and 1970s. Expressions of anti-feminism used to issue regularly at comhairle ceantair and county council meetings and on the hustings. It was a disgrace but she had the bravery and the guts to see over that and to best all those people. It is women like her that were the leaders. I congratulate women on the great strides they have made in this country within my own lifetime - we do not have to go back 100 years - and it is changing all the time.

For me, Senator Norris struck the key note in today's discussion. I, too, am remarkably impressed by the courage and consistency of former President Mary McAleese.