Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be fair, one would have to acknowledge the very significant moves in childcare, with a reduction of 25% in costs, on top of significant measures last year that culminated in the employment regulation order agreed between the unions and employers in the childcare sector. That was a substantial breakthrough that has been acknowledged by the social partners in respect of improving working conditions within the childcare sector. In addition, in this budget, we are taking meaningful steps to improve affordability for childcare in the context of a reduction in costs of the order of 25%.

In health, all inpatient hospital charges will be abolished and free GP care will be considerably expanded as a result of yesterday's measures. That will include, as was agreed last year although it has taken a long time to negotiate, with the Irish Medical Organisation and others, the provision of GP visit cards to children aged six and seven. Moreover, we have extended even further, on foot of what we did last year, free contraception to women up to 30 years of age. The women's healthcare package is a significant, progressive move that started last year and that is continuing this year.

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