Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for bringing the Bill before the House. On many occasions, officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have attended the House with the relevant Minister or Minister of State, to furnish us with a great deal of information. They have assisted us in shaping various Bills. The Bill before us will provide added protection for women who wish to re-enter the workforce. As we have been seeking to do, it will bring women back into the workplace, whose experience and qualifications have been lost to us due to the absence of such legislation. The Bill will also mean less hardship for families where mothers wish to work. Women of my generation, who remained at home to rear their children without the benefit of such legislative protection, will consider this Bill with great envy.