Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

-----in terms of the publication by the Minister of State, Deputy English, of a JLC process for the childcare sector. The process was initiated by me and my Department a number of months ago. The JLC recognises a sector and the childcare professionals who have worked so hard during Covid. It is a sector where we know pay is low and employees are predominantly, and to the vast preponderance, female. This process recognises a combination of the fact that the Government has prioritised this and my Department has prioritised the need to address this matter. I thank the Minister of State for working so quickly to address this matter.As regards amendment No. 42, I assure the Senator and the House that the findings of the review, when undertaken, will be published. It can only be beneficial if the report is published because it will inform subsequent amendment to and development of the relevant legislation.

Senator Higgins envisaged that her proposed changes would mirror some of the wider changes. I have shortened the timeframe for having the review from after five years to after four years. That is appropriate. We have to strike a balance between allowing the process to operate to get a full sense of it and not putting it on the long finger. In light of the other timelines in the Bill, four years is the correct timeframe.

On amendment No. 44, if the review after four years envisages legislative changes and we still have in place the mechanism set out in this Bill, there is a mechanism for bringing in another review proposal. That is the best way to go.

On the idea of a report, the review we are initiating will address much of that. In looking at the legislation, the review will also look at the bigger questions and the ongoing appropriateness of this legislation in the context of what it has achieved and what it seeks to achieve. To provide for a report within three years when the initial review will take place within four years would be to take a disjointed approach to gaining a full understanding of how this legislation works, having allowed one full cycle when we it will apply to employers with 50 employees.