Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy O'Gorman, come to the House. As all Members are aware, there is a serious crisis in the childcare industry. Many mothers of young babies or older children are trying to go back to work, but are prevented from doing so by a lack of childcare facilities. This goes back to the issue of the under-resourcing and underfunding of the childcare industry for many years. It goes back to the Constitution, which states that a woman's place is in the home. We need that provision to be amended. A woman's place is wherever she wishes to be. Inadequate childcare services facilitate the viewpoint exemplified by that provision of the Constitution. If we are serious about gender equality, we must be serious about childcare and making available proper State-funded childcare.

I echo the words of Senator Kyne, who raised the issue of daycare services for those with physical and intellectual disabilities. We need to get the services back up and running in a safe and secure way for their users.

I echo the comments of Senator McCallion regarding James McClean. He is a good Irish republican and deserves respect. All racism should be prohibited completely.