Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Once again, I thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for proposing this Bill. It has been a very interesting debate. I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. There have been personal reflections by Members who have been here many years and who have spoken of their own difficulties. The Dáil as it currently sits is not one that is inclusive or aligned with something to which we can expect to attract people. As Deputy Bacik mentioned, increased female participation is really important. All parties have an obligation to drive that forward. I think we will see progress on that at the next general election but we must make the workings of our Parliament far more inclusive in all aspects. Many of the stories we have heard today show how it deters many when they see the inner workings of these Houses. There is a cross-party approach and the Ceann Comhairle has established good structures to progress many matters. We have seen the evolution of that with this Bill.

Remote working is one element of a wider agenda in making the Oireachtas a more family-friendly and inclusive workplace. As others have mentioned, as well as this Bill there are many recommendations from the Forum on a Family Friendly and Inclusive Parliament and from the Citizens' Assembly. The new Joint Committee on Gender Equality that Deputy Bacik chairs will also play an important role in seeing how we can mould the recommendations from the Citizens' Assembly into tangible policy outcomes. It is important and positive that is being progressed now.

There are strong commitments in the programme for Government to develop supports and alternatives for Oireachtas Members to take parental leave. One of the forum's recommendations was something that the Ceann Comhairle spoke about, namely aligning sittings around school holidays which has been a difficulty for Deputies and Senators over a long period. We did not align the sitting calendars and that made things very difficult for some Members. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has already started to progress discussions with Members on how we might best improve family-friendly policies in these Houses.

It is clear that there is significant momentum behind the proposals for a more family-friendly and inclusive Parliament. While the matters are complex, and, as highlighted this evening, involve different competing constitutional obligations, I believe it is up to all of us to work together to come up with workable solutions which may or may not involve legislative or constitutional change. I look forward to future discussions on the issues raised in this legislation and thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for her work in progressing this matter.

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