Before I call Senator Keogan, I wish to associate myself personally with the words of welcome from Senator Buttimer and the Cathaoirleach to Liam Ahearn. I am aware that Liam served on Tipperary County Council for ten years and was the chairperson of that body. He was a very distinguished public representative in his own right. All of us realise that the support of our families is critical to us being able to do this job. Without that support we could not do it. The great work Senator Ahearn does here is in no small way due to the support of and inspiration and mentioning from his wonderful father, Liam. I join in Members' welcome to him.

I also welcome to the Gallery students of the fifth and sixth classes student council from Lusk Senior National School, Fingal. In fact, I had an historic association with that school for many a day. I might meet some of them later. I also welcome their teacher, Erica, who is a friend of the Leader of the House. Senator Doherty is anxious that I welcome our guests. They may wish to wait until the end of the Order of Business, if they can, when the Leader will offer her own welcome to them. We had better move on or it will be evening before we finish.

The law exists in a state of flux, as do the prevailing social opinions of the people it governs. These two aspects of our shared existence act upon each other. Sometimes, changes in the law affect people's opinion. More often, legislators and the Government wait to see which way the wind is blowing before making a decision. Where this balance fails is when the Government and legislators are beholden not to the prevailing widely held opinions of the public but to the carefully curated and concentrated views of a vocal minority who have been given powerful platforms as lobbyists. This seems to have happened again in this country in perhaps the most cynical manner yet.

To all the women and mothers in Ireland, did you know the Government is about to erase all mention of you from our legislation on maternity leave? The proposition may sound ridiculous - indeed it is - but that is the plan under the deceptively named work life balance Bill. After all, who would be against work-life balance? Hidden among the miscellaneous provisions of the Bill are various amendments to the Maternity Protection Act 1994 regarding both breast-feeding and maternity leave that will remove all mention of the word "woman" and will assert that men can breast-feed too. We are regularly told that words matter, yet when women tell us that the words "mother", "female" and "woman" matter to them, they are dismissed as unkind or exclusionary. The reality is that maternity is undertaken by women and not by men. To replace the word "mother" or "woman" with the word "person" is a retrograde step and strips women of the core part of their identity.

Women have wombs where our children are conceived and nourished during pregnancy. Women have breasts with which we feed our children. These things need to be said without fear of causing offence. Who is insisting we deny there are two sexes and why? Sex is a protected characteristic in our Equal Status Acts, because women experienced discrimination based on their biology. Can we not find a way to be inclusive without erasing women's biology and experience from our legislation? This country spent years coming to terms with its treatment of women who became mothers outside of marriage. It is a journey we are still making and I am sure there are more apologies to the women of Ireland to come. Are we, at the same time as those apologies, going to launch yet another attack on women in the very legislation that was intended to protect them? Perhaps it was thought these changes would not be noticed or that we would not care. Both of these assumptions are wrong. If the Government thinks it can quietly remove us from legislation, rest assured the women of Ireland will not go gentle into that good night.

Today marks the start of Bord Bia Bloom 2022 in the Phoenix Park. It provides a fantastic opportunity for people to engage with nature, gardening and biodiversity. Bloom is open from today until bank holiday Monday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. It is to be hoped there will be plenty of opportunity for people to attend and enjoy the show.

This year's show incorporates 19 show gardens and nine postcard gardens, more than 80 Irish food and drink producers, 17 nurseries in the nursery village, more than 25 cookery demonstrations, and 130 retailers, all within a 70-acre site. I am particularly pleased that my Department has sponsored an organic edible garden at Bloom this year. The garden illustrates how to grow a range of organic vegetables and fruit crops within a linear urban space and demonstrates the steps we can take to protect the environment within our gardens. It also highlights the need to restore hedgerows, meadows and trees within our wider landscapes and environments.

I encourage everyone attending over the next five days to stop by and see what they can replicate in their own garden, however big or small, and how they can play their part for nature and biodiversity. Bloom will attract more than 110,000 visitors and has evolved to become one of the most popular events over the June bank holiday weekend.

The festival is an opportunity for the public to experience and sample the very best of Irish horticulture, food and drink direct from Ireland's world-class designers, growers, producers and suppliers. Bloom is not only a great family day out but also a platform to obtain a wide range of information and to engage with important topics like sustainability, biodiversity and mental health through beautiful floral design, expert talks and family-friendly exhibits.

This year's festival celebrates the renewed public appreciation for outdoor spaces and their role in promoting positive mental and physical health. For example, Coolmine Community School, Blanchardstown, has designed a garden space for students to calm the mind and focus. Its postcard garden is inspired by a garden that currently resides in the school to offer students a relaxing open-air space. In addition to being a space to promote positive mental health, the Zen garden promotes biodiversity by featuring plants that attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators as well as a range of sensory and edible plants.

Bord Bia is encouraging as many people as possible to come by public transport if that option is available to them. That is how I intend to travel with my hard-working constituency team from Laois-Offaly tomorrow. There will be shuttle buses running in the Phoenix Park throughout the weekend. I recommend this to anyone looking for something to do this weekend. I believe the weather is - touch wood - to be nice. I have heard different opinions but I hope it will be on the sunny side. I encourage people to get to the Phoenix Park to see how they can help nature into their own gardens.

I know Senator Hackett will have a long and wonderful career here but, if she ever decides to leave this place, marketing would be a real option for her.