Mr. Damien Peelo:

There needs to be a change in attitude to recognise that it is a valued and crucial role and not just a gendered role. We think back to how nursing was perceived in society for many years. Not many men went into nursing. Women have had the same issue fighting in the opposite direction. There were a lot of roles that were gendered as being suitable for men and we have had to overcome a lot of issues. Childcare and care of any kind is still seen as a role that is primarily taken up by women and is not given the importance and status it needs to have and we need to change that. We need society to change that discourse and discussion so that it is seen as being suitable for men. As Mr. O'Connor said, it seems silly to say that it is a wonderful thing to be able to say "I cared for my children and I spent time with them" and not be seen as something less than a man. That is really important. We must lift that debate and discussion.