Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I am not responsible for policy on child care, there is a Minister who is. To establish the Government policy on child care, along the lines of the Deputy's supplementary question, he should put down a question for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and not to me. I have referenced for the Deputy a reply to the notion that different parents should be treated differently under the tax code. I referenced the working party report which said it would be discriminatory to do so. I am responsible for taxes, among other things, and I have given the Deputy the reason applying tax relief to child care would be inequitable. It would discriminate against people who are not in the tax net and who are not in the labour force. I am fulfilling my obligations to the House in being amenable in respect of the policies I control. If Deputy Ryan wants a general discussion on child care, I suggest he raises it with the Minister, Deputy Zappone.

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