Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we can leave the questions for the moment, I wish to deal with the reference of the witness to other countries. Do other countries have a plan in place? When we are making comparisons in international or global terms, do other countries plan for maternity leave, retirement and unplanned absences? One cannot plan for every eventuality, for someone who might be killed on the way to work for instance. It is fairly obvious if a cohort of women are working in a place, that a portion will be on maternity leave. If there is a portion of people reaching 60 years of age, it is obvious they will be moving on in time. When one is making comparisons with other countries, have they planned for these things, or are they operating in the same way as we are?