The working group also considered the concerns, as expressed by female employees themselves, in relation to combining pregnancy and caring for new-born babies with work commitments. In particular, they consulted a report, New Mothers at Work, commissioned by the Employment Equality Agency and published in 1999, which documents the difficulties experienced by 30 women in combining motherhood and the demands of the workplace. A strong theme which emerged from this research was that women interviewed wanted to stay in the labour force, but felt inadequately supported by legislative and other measures in exercising their preferred choice. It is hoped that the provisions of this Bill can help alleviate this problem by providing the necessary support to mothers returning to work after childbirth.