Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments of Senator Higgins on women in the workforce and in particular the issue of child care, which disproportionately affects female employees. It is an issue close to my heart, being the mother of a young child. It disproportionately affects females, although I know many males are involved with child care provision in families as well. However, it often falls on the females to decide whether to continue in employment or give it up entirely to take care of the family. This results in underemployment of women in later years and it means that women tend to drop out of the workforce and then find it difficult to re-enter. Their earning potential is permanently affected and this has a knock-on effect for their security later in life. Will the Minister of State indicate whether there are any plans in government to address the astronomical costs of child care in Ireland today?

I support my colleagues from Westmeath on the issue of the Imperial Tobacco manufacturing company in Mullingar. The loss of 90 jobs is an extraordinary number of job losses in any place but it is especially keen in a town the size of Mullingar. I look forward to hearing the comments of the Minister of State on that issue.