Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House. I am the first speaker from my party as Senator Kett, our spokesman in this area, was good enough to allow me to use his slot to give me more time to make my points. It is not the case that he is not interested in the subject as he will speak later in the debate. There are many men in Fianna Fáil who are interested in the child care issue.

It is unfortunate that the Minister of State and I are west Galway colleagues as we may not be friends at the end of the debate.