Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As I look around, I think that, apart from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am the longest serving Deputy in this House, and on every day of those 18 years, I have heard references to trying to make ours a family-friendly Oireachtas, although we seem to be going further away from that. Even so, a lot of work has been done in respect of parental leave for Members of the Oireachtas and that should be continued during this term. I see that Deputy O'Gorman is in the Chamber, and I acknowledge his support for the newborn baby grant in the previous Government. That was something on which both he and my predecessor, Heather Humphreys, led out. It is to acknowledge that at what is a very happy time, there is also additional expense, and we have tried to make it as easy as possible for parents to access this payment at what is a very busy time in their lives.

On childcare, there are commitments in the programme for Government, on which the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be leading out, to improve access to it and to improve supports for parents as they rear their children and get through the early stages of their child's life. That is certainly something she will lead out on.

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