Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the theme of International Women's Day, I wish it a success and join with others in the comments they have made. As I was sitting here thinking about it, I was reminded of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, BIPA. We met in Stormont, unlike so many others who cannot meet there. We met in the Chamber there on Sunday and Monday. On Monday, three women bounced into the Chamber from the Women's Coalition. What an energy. What an enthusiasm. It was palpable. Earlier, we had been talking about many issues and people were talking about diversity and inclusivity and a whole load of other things and then these three brilliant women came in and shared their stories and campaign. What those women have done in the Women's Coalition in Northern Ireland is phenomenal. I spoke after they left and I noted the predominantly white, middle-class, elderly gentlemen sitting around the Chamber discussing issues and how it all went very flat when the three women left. I just want to say how important women are in politics and I salute the Women's Coalition in Northern Ireland. We have a number of interparliamentary associations in the Oireachtas. BIPA is one but there are a number of others. It is important that we do not talk in a vacuum or silo. There needs to be a mechanism for the interparliamentary groups that represent this Oireachtas to come in here, particularly in the Seanad because I think it is a forum for it, and deliver reports and account for their activities on behalf of this Parliament through interparliamentary activity. The Seanad is potentially an area where we could set aside time to hear reports from these organisations.