Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of women in agriculture. Last night, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine was addressed by University College Galway associate professor, Dr. Maura Farrell, regarding women in agriculture.When she advocated strongly for women, including women at the centre of politics and agri-politics, I highlighted to her the great disappointment that was the lack of women's representation on the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I made a call at that meeting and in a media interview last night, and I am making it again here: it is incumbent on all parties and none to encourage and support women to be active in politics and to give them the confidence they need. Dr. Farrell outlined the successful array of women doing fantastic work in agri-enterprise across the country. She said she was tired of the attitude that women could “stand in the gap”, which is a great expression in rural Ireland, and wanted to see them being recognised, supported and encouraged. She spoke about the key issue of confidence. It was reasonable. In line with the remarks about local government by my colleague, Senator Cassells, we need to encourage women in all strands of life, but particularly rural Ireland. I ask all of the parties in the House and the Independents to field women on the agricultural panel. Having women represented on that panel is important. I acknowledge Senator Maria Byrne is on the agricultural panel but we need more women on it. We need more women participating, engaging and making decisions in the very heart of our democracy on the committee on agriculture. Let us all support women in agri-enterprise. There are hundreds of them doing fantastic work. We need to celebrate and encourage that. I call on Senators to revert to their respective parties and ask how they can support new entrants into politics, particularly from the agriculture sector, and, more importantly, how they can elevate and support the women who are already in the Houses and who have vast experience of rural life and agriculture and bring them to the very centre of policy formation and legislation.