Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, for coming to the House to take the Bill. I realise this is the Final Stage and it is difficult to get a handle on it when one has not been involved from the outset. Generally, I am happy with the Bill. We have made improvements and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, for bringing forward those proposals.

Overall, we still need to do much more for working parents, particularly working mothers, including mothers who are breastfeeding or those who have a very young child. It is extremely difficult to go out to work when one has a very young child and some mothers have more than one. We need to do everything in our power to assist parents in that position, make family friendly policies and have family friendly workplaces. Those facilities, particularly crèches, are still not available to parents. We, the Members of the Oireachtas, should be giving the lead to other companies and we are falling down by not giving that lead. It is essential that we provide a crèche in Leinster for the many parents – I speak for men and women – who work in these Houses. That would give a lead to the other Departments in this city and throughout the country which should provide such facilities. I am aware some local authorities are improving the position in that regard, but it is time we came into the modern world.

We have encouraged women into the workplace, but we owe it to them to make their lives a little easier. Having a crèche in or adjacent to their workplace would make life much easier for parents and children because visits can be made at lunchtime and for breastfeeding purposes. I hope the Minister of State will consider that idea and use his influence to implement such a facility at the earliest possible opportunity.