Ms Nichola Harkin:

With regard to part-time work, we do not wish to discourage employers from offering flexible and family-friendly working policies to their employees. That is why we believe the narrative is so important. In many companies that offer part-time working it is very much at the request of employees. It allows employees, particularly female employees, to remain within the labour market.

We certainly do not want to discourage that or demonise employers who offer family-friendly working practices to their employees.