Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am in Leinster House 2000. I thank the witnesses for their very insightful contribution. What I am hearing is that we do not need to regulate childminders out of childminding. While I smiled when the analogy of the goldfish came out, we do not need to get to that level of regulation when it comes to one's own home and children in their own home so we must be mindful of that.

Mention was made of a potential increase in costs for childminders and the potential for this to be passed on to parents. I am a firm believer that regulation does not necessarily have to mean taxation but what tax incentives would the witnesses like to see their members and parents be able to avail of that would make things better? It is magic wand time. If the witnesses were charged with developing the national childcare scheme, what would be the one thing they insert into it that would make things better for their members? Have any of the witnesses engaged with or made their concerns known to the Ombudsman for Children and what would their concerns be?