Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank all Senators who contributed to the debate. I make no apologies for bringing forward this motion only two weeks after our debate on the equal opportunities child care programme to which the Leader was good enough to concede at my request.

Senators Terry, Cox, White and I have spoken about this matter on various occasions in recent years. However, we seem to have made a breakthrough in the debate. We and those involved in the child care industry believe we are finally being heard. In that regard, I wish to refer to those who work in that industry in the context of correspondence I received today. I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, appeared on the recent "Prime Time" programme that dealt with the issue of child care. Unfortunately, he left viewers and those in the industry with the impression that he believes it is acceptable that child care employees should be on the minimum wage. That is indicative of how we regard child care. I hope the Minister of State will clarify his remarks. However, I also hope what he said will initiate a debate on how we should reward, in economic terms, those who carry out the important job of caring for our children. That is one of the myriad issues which need to be considered and tackled and brought to the forefront in terms of our policy agenda. The Labour Party is placing child care at the top of its list of priorities going forward.

As regards the comments of the Minister, Deputy Michael McDowell, I was being totally honest when I said that, in terms of Government spending on child care, it has been a case of our coming from nothing. Why is that the case? There are two main reasons. The first of these, as Senator McCarthy pointed out, is that the economic position in 1997 was very different to that which obtains now. At that time we were increasing child benefit by a substantial amount relative to the standards that then existed. We had a budget surplus of €15 million in 1996. That surplus is now counted in billions and the country is much changed.

The second reason relates to the fact that Ireland is now a different country. The latter is the case because, on foot of our economic prosperity, so many people are at work. That economic prosperity has created the demand for child care. It is not accident that every week without fail The Sunday Business Post comments on child care. It has become an economic issue and the Government must sit up and pay attention to it.

The participation of women in the workforce has been one of the drivers of our economic expansion.