Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I listened to the Leader on "Morning Ireland" earlier. I am conscious that she is not present and I would obviously prefer to direct my comments to her. With regard to the content of that interview this morning, everybody is entitled to express frustration about how an event is organised but I very much believe that a line was crossed because it was suggested that an advocacy body in this country that receives State funding to ensure it can be an independent voice and a thorn in the side of Government was a State body. There was an inference that, because if is getting State funding, it should be follow the Government line. That is not acceptable and that crosses a line. The National Women's Council of Ireland, NWCI, has worked with people from all parties and none over many years and, if it was not for its work, we would not have seen so much social change in this country over that time. As a member of the Labour Party, I am proud that men in my party have taken women's views seriously but, let us be frank, men in other parties have not always done so. It is the work of the council, which works with women from all parties and none but which is primarily a voice on its own, that has led social change in this country. An inference was drawn with regard to its funding. We have seen this previously. I have raised in this House the matter of veiled threats being made about funding when people on drugs task forces spoke out about State policy. We also witnessed this with regard to An Taisce last year. Crossing that line and making out that independent bodies are not entitled to secure funding should they take a view that is somehow at odds with that of the Government is simply not on. It is important to say that this afternoon.