A day like this helps us to pause the cycle all of us are in and gives us a chance to reflect on how far we have come, or indeed what other work needs to be done, particularly in the context of International Women's Day. I reflect on my mother, who had a great social conscience and formed the politics I stand for today. I would like to acknowledge that. Of course, as you grow up then, you are influenced by your family, your wife and your daughter. My daughter Alva bullied me a lot but she got me on the right course and kept me informed. Now, as a granddad, I listen to my granddaughters, Ellie, Robin, Phoebe and Nancy. I see the way they are influenced by people who achieved something in sport, for example, because they are all involved in sport. There is the likes of Mary Fitzgerald, a Paralympian who contested in the shot put. She is a huge figure in Kilkenny and someone who has given great hope to all of those who want to participate in sport. In terms of administration, I listened to Linda Kenny from Carlow speaking about her input into sport, the organisation of sport, clubs and so on. All of it was focused on women, young children and general community participation and achievement in the sporting world. Katelyn Cummins has been mentioned. Again, she is a figure young people can look to and say that can be achieved and can be done. Josephine O'Neill is the current president of Macra na Feirme. I listened carefully to a contribution she made locally in Kilkenny and at a recent county council meeting, where she was honoured. I could not but be impressed by her grasp of what needed to be done, not just in the sector that she represents but in society in general and how we can improve things. In the audiovisual room I saw a group of young women who are affected by Friedrich's ataxia. They put forward their views in what I considered to be a stunning, passionate contribution asking the Minister to make the appropriate drug available to deal with their issue and prolong their lives. All of that together represents a positivity that we can acknowledge. On the other side of this, I have listened to contributions from young women, in particular affected by Tusla and about hearings in the courtroom, what is said to them, how it is said to them and how it treats them badly and does not acknowledge fully what they are going through. Quite frankly, I think that is a disgusting element of society, a disgusting part of our social system and our court system, that they are not acknowledged in a way that respects the problems they have. Their lives are being stolen from them and they are turning to the system, which it seems turns against them. I am shocked by the stories they have told me and by the way they were treated. Likewise in relation to the Defence Forces, I have listened very carefully to what women who were members of the force had to say. How far have we got with that? How far have we reached out to those who are affected to give them some hope this system is listening to them? You would think the system is deaf when it comes to women's health, breast cancer and so forth. While we have spoken about it and put new strategies in place, they are not delivering in the way they should. I refer to the rape crisis centres and Amber in Kilkenny, the refuge. I know the new refuge in Carlow will be delivered. Is it not a strange thing, with the emphasis being on all of this, that it does not radically change the attitudes of people? It does not seem in any way to put some time on this where we want to have something done before a date. We need to examine how we respond and if that timing is correct.

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