Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was not attempting to offer an excuse. While we have a long way to go, no one can dispute the Government's good record. It has done a great deal in respect of gender equality and advancing the rights and freedoms of women in our society. I mentioned it simply to point out the complexity of the issue. It surprises people to hear that some of the Nordic countries with subsidised childcare and a long-standing history of gender equality and progress have larger gender gaps than Ireland.

That demonstrates the number of factors in play and how what may appear to be solutions at first glance prove not to be so on further examination. I do not wish to engage in a contest with the Labour Party on this matter. Rather, I want the legislation to be passed.

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