Sin-----

Can I have just one word from the Taoiseach? That is all it would require.

Go on.

Go raibh míle maith agat.

That is four words.

The programme for Government refers, I believe, on 15 occasions, to commitments to women that claim to empower them and to tackle the inequalities experienced by them in our society and internationally. Last week, the Government refused to reveal how it voted in the election of Saudi Arabia to the UN Commission on the Status of Women-----

That has already been discussed here.

-----and I am asking the Taoiseach did he vote - Yes or No - to allow Saudi Arabia take a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women.

I do not imagine the Taoiseach voted at all. Did you, a Thaoisigh?

Ireland has had a very strong record in respect of defending women's rights.

It is merely a "Yes" or "No".

This committee at the United Nations will be chaired by the incoming ambassador, Ms Geraldine Byrne Nason, on behalf of Ireland next year and the Deputy can rest assured that the question of women's rights will be one that will be foremost in her mind at that committee.

It has already been made clear by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that not since 1947 have any of the secret ballots been divulged. There are very good reasons for that. Clearly, the issue that arose here was that a panel of five countries-----

Did the Taoiseach tell Deputy Ross?

-----were put forward: Turkmenistan, Korea, Japan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. There were five nominations for five places. Obviously, there was a place for every country involved.

No competition at all.

The important issue here is the functioning of the United Nations, the mechanics of how it actually works. In my view, it needs fairly serious reform. Be that as it may, these votes occur on a regular basis-----

Precedence.

-----every year, as they have since 1947.

Precedence is no excuse.

This is the first time that Saudi Arabia has been on this committee. This will be a committee focused on women's rights. Obviously, Saudi Arabia will have to hear some home truths and will have to play its part.

It will be a great comfort to the women of Ireland, and internationally, that Saudi Arabia is there.

I support the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, here in this matter. For those who wish that there would be a big row about this inside Cabinet, let me say that the members of the Independent Alliance were quite happy to say we need to have the opportunity to ask relevant questions and be better informed-----

Did the Taoiseach tell them?

Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi.

-----about votes that are coming up at the United Nations by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and that is the case. Clearly, since it was formed in 1947-----

We need to conclude. We are way over time.

-----we have never had cases of divulgence of secret votes. Deputy Ó Caoláin knows how important they are.

It is time to break the precedent.