Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

Again, it was due to a lack of consultation. We have always had to battle for conditions of employment for our members, nurses and midwives. We have to examine how we view female workers, particularly those who have childcaring responsibilities. On the one hand we are a State that says we completely embrace women who go to work, but we still have a gender pay gap and issues with real childcare provided by the State that would allow women to really participate in the workforce. This is a reflection of our overall position in respect of the provision of childcare, because women want to work. Our members wanted to contribute during the pandemic and they did. Many of the sacrifices they made, particularly around childcare, have been set out in our submission. They went above and beyond what would be expected and that has to be compensated in the first instance. They cannot be at a loss. In the next number of months to the end of this year we have to make sure that any annual leave they have spent is repaid to them. The same should apply to parental leave and any costs over and above what they normally would have paid should be reimbursed. That is very simple and the Government can do that immediately. We also have to start treating women who go to work with respect. That involves making sure that when they go to work they have absolutely secure childcare available to them that is appropriate for the hours they work. We need to do that if we are serious about full engagement of women in the workplace.