Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the role of the Minister of State. As has been said time and time again, he has stepped up to the mark. My former PA, Mairéad O'Shea, has been very much involved. The Minister of State met with her. Those people are doing a lot of work to encourage more women into local politics.

Of course it is long past time that women had the entitlement to maternity leave. I hope this Bill will encourage more people. In my county of Roscommon the rate of female participation is about 22%. I acknowledge the female members: Councillors Orla Leyden, Valerie Byrne, Emer Kelly and Kathleen Shanagher. Senator Dolan referred to the fact that she spent a short time on Galway County Council. She has been replaced by an excellent councillor called Evelyn Parsons, who is doing a great job and continuing the good work there. I acknowledge her as well.

I know we are very short on time. We must encourage more women into politics. We must do everything to support that. I send out a call to my own county today to ask more women to come forward for our own party and other parties if they wish, but preferably our own party, to stand for election come the next local elections. That is not too far away. We must all be aware of that as well. This is a very important piece of legislation. I thank the Minister of State very much for all he has done and the way he and his officials have pursued this with so much vigour. It is a major step forward. It is the right way to progress. I say well done all round.