Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his time and for outlining his key priorities in the coming months and years. I look forward to working with him through the committee.

I welcome the commitment contained within the programme for Government and on his priority list to the reform of the pay and conditions for the childcare sector. It is crucial. We urgently need to advance wage agreements on behalf of the staff and providers in this sector. We also need to look to reform childcare costs.

These are a significant burden on working families at present. The establishment of the expert group, which will be working on the new funding model, is crucial. I am keen to hear exactly when in 2021 that report will be published. It is crucially important and it will set the direction for this committee in respect of the sector.

I want to touch on the mother and baby homes legislation that was passed almost a fortnight ago. We received considerable correspondence at our constituency offices in Mayo. There was major anxiety and stress among members of the public. I draw the Minister's attention to the petition that 196,000 people have signed. What are his thoughts around the phrase "Repeal the seal, Open the archive"? It is probably bringing considerable anxiety to the women and children who are survivors and who came through mother and baby homes. They believe they are being denied access to their own testimony, files and records. I am keen to get legislation involves and where we need to go to in the coming months in terms of further legislation to ensure they have access? Can we ensure that Tusla is on board and that the Department will be to the forefront on this?