Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to make it perfectly clear that the guidelines will not impose conditions on anybody. No woman or man will be forced to give up his or her job, irrespective of the reality of his or her current income position, as distinct from the child care costs involved. I know young people, women in particular, including teachers and nurses, who are not earning as much as their current child care costs. It is a feature of the Government and the Ministers for Social Protection and Education and Skills to provide as much child care assistance and support as they can in the preschool year, after-school provision and so on. It is a fact of life that these challenges apply for a relatively short period. I again confirm for Deputy Micheál Martin and the House that the guidelines referred to which have not yet been published will not include as a condition that anybody, woman or man, will be required to give up a position, regardless of his or her circumstances.

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