Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and welcome her for her very nice and generous response. We had a hard morning trying to defend this House against those who wish to extinguish us so doing something creative is wonderful. I thank the Minister of State; Senator Conway, who always speaks in that frame of mind; and Senator Moran as well. I also thank Senator White for the Bill and all the work that went into it. I thank Senator Moloney for sharing her experiences.

The sharing within the family is a good idea and does not involve an increase in expenditure. I am sure that interests the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as well. How would we ensure the sharing is genuine? This is a benefit we have decided to give to women and I support that. Will some unscrupulous men take it for themselves against the real wishes of the woman? This is one of the things we have to discuss on Committee Stage to make sure there is full assent because it could be a handy grab in a way Senator White and the House would not intend.

In Ireland the responsibilities of fatherhood are being taken more seriously. When the Minister of State is compiling her thoughts it would be interesting to know what social research is available now. I get the impression, given the better housing conditions, that the pub society which many men would have frequented in the past has lost its attraction, that maybe there are not so many fellows married to the GAA, Fianna Fáil or whatever excuse they used to stay out of the house and that there is much more sharing. I discussed this issue with Senator Feargal Quinn and he said he remembers when the first man wheeled a pram down Grafton Street, the newspapers were out taking photographs as this was such a historic event. I do not think it is such a historic event any more. We welcome the fact that the joys of family life and the responsibilities are shared and there should not be the gender stereotyping that the Minister of State described.

I still have a complaint against HPAT Ireland which keeps women out of the study of medicine. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, agrees with me but it still happens. The excuse is that the women would leave to have children. I say that is more customers for the medical profession so why object to them being in medical school? It also deprives girls of a role model when they go to see doctors. I hope that kind of discrimination will be always tackled. The Minister is on our side in the argument but the universities still do it and that should not happen.

In looking through the points made by the Minister of State, I appreciate the one about the well-paid leave takers costing more by transferring the leave between them and her impact assessment. That is very important in all laws and I welcome what she has said. Sometimes we do not think through the consequences and it would be worthwhile to do it. This Bill is optimistic, it is positive, if it frees up the women entrepreneurs that Senator Mary White wants. If it strengthens and deepens the family, at which we may be better than we are given credit for, that is all to the good.

In regard to individualisation, I lived in the Kildare constituency and many women liked it and put Charlie McCreevy at the top of the poll. It was not liked in The Irish Timesbut many people who were working enjoyed not being part of their husband for tax purposes. Maybe he was more revolutionary than people are saying now. I look forward to Committee Stage and the generous and welcome response of the Minister of State and the response of the House. It has been a good afternoon's work.