Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

It is not a man's club either as it is not family friendly for fathers. I do not have children but I know that it will not be easy for me when I do. It would be similar if I was a male parliamentarian and the same is true for staff of the Houses. Facilities are not provided to promote this area. The lifestyle people must live here involves them working very late hours. The Oireachtas is not leading the way. We are introducing legislation, but Leinster House does not lead the way in terms of how it organises facilities.

It would be best if employers tried to make arrangements within the workplace. From an economic point of view, this would be the best way to try to address the situation. This is an added reason to remove the subsection, as proposed by the Labour Party amendment. An employer is not obliged to provide facilities, but it is not necessary to say that in the legislation. It should be the other way round. We should be trying to promote the provision of facilities such as a crèche. I do not think we have a crèche in Leinster House, but perhaps I am wrong.