Seanad debates

Tuesday, 2 December 2003

Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

2:30 pm

Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for listening to the previous debate on this Bill and coming forward with changes today. I also fully support Senator Cox in what she has said on many occasions about securing rights for the women of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I ask the Minister to make the necessary changes to make it easier for women to combine child rearing with their work, including breastfeeding. We must make life easier, and we should be setting the scene for that, showing private sector companies that we can look after women in the workplace. We should have our own crèche in this House for staff and members. It is a cause of shame to us that we have not provided that facility. We encourage others to do so but do not do it ourselves. We should take the lead on that, and I ask the Minister to try to make progress.

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