Ms Eilís Ní Chaithnía:

That has been the crux of the debate, has it not? There are a couple of pieces. A core priority in the National Women's Council's work is to increase economic independence for women. There are a number of reasons for that. Without economic independence, women are more vulnerable in society. That is a fact. In addition, they are more vulnerable to violence, domestic abuse and so on. Economic independence is a crucial element of women's equality in society. Providing subsidised child care is a key element of ensuring women participate in the labour market and in other forms of civic engagement. That is where we are coming from. We do not at all suggest that providing support for women who are working and women who have the option of staying in the home should be preclusive. It should not be mutually exclusive. It should not be one or the other. The National Women's Council has been talking very clearly about what providing a subsidised model of child care allows.

The National Women's Council has been working on this for about a decade. Over the past decade, at least, we have heard consistently on the radio, certainly before every budget, that there needs to be a child care model subsidised by the State and that child care levels are precluding women from entering the workforce. That has to be addressed. This initiative is the first step in addressing that. We reject the idea that it should be a matter of one or the other. There should be other supports for women who are caring for their children in the home. The National Women's Council does not suggest at all that there should be one or the other. That, of course, is a choice that needs to be made by a woman and the family.