Mr. Toby Wolfe:

A couple of questions were asked about the not-for-profit and profit issue. It is fair to say that many viewers of the "Prime Time" programme were shocked at the high level of parental fees and public subsidy going into services in which staff were paid low wages and quality standards were low. It came across, rightly, as shocking. At the same time, it is important to note that much of the provision in Ireland is small-scale and non-profit community provision. There are models, including those in New Zealand and Norway, where high quality standards have been achieved through a mix of private and community provision. A national debate on the question is certainly welcome. The Taoiseach was absolute right to say in the Dáil the other day that we need to see child care not as a business but as a profession.