Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Bill and the discussion that has taken place about it. From the Minister of State's perspective, this is about equality. Several Members have mentioned that responsibility for this area is spread across several Departments.

As I understand it that is an issue pertaining to Europe, particularly the equality issue. The Minister of State has succeeded in bringing equality to the issue of parenting regarding leave of absence from work, which helps address the age-old imbalance the Leader spoke about. Society has moved on considerably in the past ten to 15 years. While fellows with a bit of bravado in the pub or at the game might make certain comments, in reality women have recognised their position as equal in Irish life. For quite some time they have addressed that balance and it is important that legislation be in line with this to ensure that from an employment point of view, the same conditions that are available to males are also available to females. I welcome this change.

The rights of return to work and protections against dismissal are vital. Many people, particularly women through their decision to have a family, found themselves returning to work to a lower grade position or one in which they might not be able to work, or an environment which they found hostile because it was different from where they worked before. Obviously their pay scales were retained because through existing legislation employers could not tamper with them. However, some employers saw an opportunity where a young woman had got married and might have been about to start a family. When she did so, they sought to prevent her from progressing through the company unlike some of her male colleagues. The work of the Minister of State regarding equality legislation is very welcome in this regard.

I welcome the provision allowing for force majeure leave, which is obviously important. It is good that the anomaly regarding placement for adoption has been addressed. In reality the child was with the parents and all that was required was the order. It is good to have this situation regularised to ensure that the facilities are available to the children. Changing the age limit from five to eight is welcome and I particularly welcome the new age limit of 16 for children with disabilities. There is considerable talk about the Disability Bill with certain interest groups having their views on the matter. I am on record as saying that I believe the Disability Bill is excellent legislation. Here is a practical measure giving parents the opportunity to assist a child in what in many cases are very difficult circumstances.

Regarding parenting, we have many debates in the Seanad through statements on drug addiction or criminality among young people, alcoholism and the damage it is doing to young people. As a country we probably have not focused as much as we should have on early intervention with children. That early intervention starts from the time the child is born. As a result of the way the economy has grown, many people are out of the house and dependent on child care facilities, which have been mentioned, or pass their children to child minders to effectively bring them up. With the kind of lifestyle people now have they find themselves out of the house from early morning to late evening with no time spent with the children. Anything that can be done through primary or secondary legislation to make it easier for such parents to be involved in the upbringing of children must be welcomed, particularly to ensure that children are given the basic skills to go on to live a successful life. That early intervention is critical. It is too late by the time they get to primary school. The formative years from the time they begin to crawl right through to when they go to primary school represent the most important period.

I speak with a little bit of experience as the father of a three-year-old and a four-month-old and it is in this context that I make these comments. My wife who is obviously off work at the moment with the younger child will seek to return to work and the kinds of provisions set out here will assist her as it will many other young mothers in similar circumstances.

While I know it does not fall within the remit of this legislation and may not even fall within the brief of the Minister of State, it is worth making some comments on child care, which has been fairly well covered in this debate. It is clear that we have a significant issue which the Government will need to tackle. The Leader rightly pointed out the difficulties associated with the cost of child care. When my two children go to a child care facility the cost is like another mortgage. People find themselves going into debt even though it might be a short time before they start school. However, it is a significant burden that is making life particularly difficult for many young couples. This problem needs to be addressed in many different ways. While this is probably not the time or place to discuss the issue, I would welcome any views the Minister of State might have or any input he would like to give from the point of view of the equality section of his Department.

Paid leave, as requested by some Senators, would be very welcome. Very few of us are fortunate enough to be in a position to take unpaid leave and live in the modern economy with all the burdens and costs that go with it. A recent report pointed to the level of borrowing by individuals. While the economy is doing particularly well, much of this progress is on the back of people no longer saving money to the extent they did in the past, obviously for the good reason that they cannot afford to do so. They are borrowing to make provision for matters like child care. It would be very welcome if we could look at the area of paid leave.