Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the amendment. I utterly refute the implication of the Labour Party motion and welcome the opportunity to put on record the achievements of the Government in the development of quality child care and the support of families since it first came into office in 1997.

Senator O'Meara inadvertently spoke the truest words we will hear in this debate when she stated the Government's programme was coming from nothing, which is true. However, who was in Government when nothing was happening? It was Fine Gael and the Labour Party.