Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I apologise. I did not realise that was the case.

The meeting to which I refer is designed to help evolve my proposals on child care. Those proposals are not carved in stone because it is dangerous, in political terms, to carve anything in stone. I met people who informed me about the draconian regulations which have been set down and to which Senator Terry referred. These regulations are preventing people from entering the child care area. It is extremely expensive to run a crèche.

Myriad documents have been presented to Government in respect of this issue. In that context, there are 11 Departments which deal with child care and family issues. These include the Departments of Finance, the Taoiseach, Education and Science, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I wish to call for a co-ordinated Government approach on child care——