Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank and acknowledge the work of Senators Doherty, Chambers and Pauline O'Reilly for moving this Bill. As already referred to here, I doubt that I am the only Member to believe that if we did not have female leadership, and women leading on the Government side of the Chamber, we would not see legislation like this make its way through the House. The Senators are to be commended on that. It is a sad state of affairs that this is how we have to get stuff done. We just have to get women in and we have to get women to do it. That is just how it is.

This is a very difficult topic. It is a hard topic for some of us in here. I am aware that it is a hard topic for people who might be watching in and listening in on this or who may be reading about it. It is a difficult topic but it is a very important topic and I particularly commend the Senators on their sensitivity and the way they have dealt with this topic.