Ms Bernie McNally:

I will answer those questions. Regarding female labour market participation, we have done a huge amount of work on a cross-government basis under First 5, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and families. That focused hugely on supporting women who choose to work outside the home to do so. Not only did it look at childcare, but we also worked with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on paternity leave, paid parental leave and encouraging both partners, if there are two partners, to share that leave in order that it might be the woman who goes back to work and her partner who stays at home. A lot is contained in First 5, which is a ten-year strategy up to 2028. We work with the Departments of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Finance regularly as well on jobs and the economy, and we know that childcare is very much central to that. First 5 commits to doubling the level of investment in childcare over the coming years to make it more accessible, more affordable, higher-quality and more flexible. There was a draft childminding action plan that would reform childminding because we know that childminding is probably more flexible in some ways and responsive for parents who work shifts, such as front-line workers. There is a lot of work in progress - a lot more to be done but a lot started - and the national childcare scheme that was developed just last November is also a potential solution.