Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The school I went to did not traditionally even provide leaving certificate education; I was one of the first people there to do the leaving certificate. If one does not have a political philosophy of developing towards the next step and the next stage one will always stay where one is. We may find this difficult to do and we may falter on the way and not do all that the Deputies reference. I understand and absolutely accept the commitment of the Deputies to the issue. In Germany, Italy, Sweden and Norway the relevant age is three years, which is essentially a prolonged maternity leave. The focus is on parents being parents and children being children and supporting them regardless. Reference was made to what was said by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in regard to cohabitation. We need to reach a stage where we are not as a State primarily interested in people's relationship status. We should be interested in parents and children. I am particularly conscious that couples, be they living together or married, also have requirements. They work and pay taxes and child care services are for them also. We must take a holistic view of this. That is what I meant when I said that I hope we move to a situation whereby we do not have lone parents in one situation and everyone else in another. I do not believe that is good.

Looking to the future, we want a society which encourages both parents, regardless of whether the relationship has been rocky and so on - we all know relationships are complicated and complex - to be involved and engaged with their children. I support the comments made by my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, on this issue. The current situation is not perfect. We are trying to change it and make it better. I accept Members opposite have many criticisms of it but I encourage them to consider why, for instance, the relevant age in Finland is four years, in the Netherlands, Austria and New Zealand, countries with good social support systems, it is five years and in Canada, which also has in place good support systems, it is six years. Also, North of the Border, where Sinn Féin is in government, the relevant age is seven years. Do they know something that we do not? I have not heard Sinn Féin's colleagues in the North complain about the relevant age there.

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