Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am not aware whether the Deputy has ever had the opportunity to visit a community-based crèche or if she has any familiarity with the work that is done by my Department, where over the past three years there has been a complete revamp of community-based child care and we now have high-quality child care at affordable, discounted prices for people going to work.

In regard to this debate, I want to move to a situation where parents are parents, regardless of their relationship status. It is time this country moved on and acknowledged all parents as equal. If the Deputy takes the time out of her busy and important schedule to visit community crèches, she will find a high level of child care is provided, very much in line with what I have seen as best practice in other countries and which follows detailed programmes.

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