Dr. Laura Bambrick:

We would agree with Senator Pauline O'Reilly about the urgency in getting this domestic violence legislation over the line. The good news is that it is part of the work-life balance Bill 2022. That is very time sensitive. In fact, we are already late with it and it should have been national law by August, which was the deadline. I would imagine that as soon as the budget is out of the way, which is no small feat, the Minister will be using the time to get that Bill through.

Therefore, as soon as the budget is out of the way, which is no small feat, the Minister will be using the time to get that Bill and we will see domestic violence legislated for.

The Senator mentioned childcare. It is hugely welcome that for the first time childcare professionals are being paid at a rate that reflects their expertise and the valuable work they do. ICTU will be looking closely at this budget. The next round is about reducing the out-of-pocket cost for parents. We will be especially focused on how those costs are reduced for working couples. Given the cut-off points under the current system, if two parents working outside the home have more than €60,000 in per annum reckonable income, that is, income after tax, plus child benefit, the childcare subsidy is the only State support I am aware of that includes child benefit as income coming into the house. Two parents in the same household who are working quickly become ineligible for those additional means-tested childcare support. That is something the trade unions will be paying especially close attention to in next week's budget.