I move amendment No. 30: In page 18, to delete lines 4 to 39, and in page 19, to delete lines 1 to 27.

I move amendment No. 60: In page 24, to delete lines 31 to 39, and in page 25, to delete lines 1 to 23.

I welcome these amendments as well as the earlier amendment in respect of the timeframe - the month or four weeks. I acknowledge the work that has been done, particularly around the working in amendment No. 70. It is really significant and quite strong. It shows what can be done and achieved when there is not just consultation but, as Deputy Bacik has said, all the various discussions throughout the Stages. I support what Deputy Bacik has said about the mandatory information session. We are down to the one key stic…

That is a really good move and a significant step. Maybe it was Deputy Bacik who made the proposal on Committee Stage. It was a really good suggestion and I am glad to see it in the legislation. For me, it shows that so much progress can be made. This goes back to the point that if we could just make progress on the one outstanding issue, it would make the difference between our supporting the legislation and our not doing so. The amendment is a really important one. It was really well thought out. In fairness to t…

I welcome the amendment. As the Minister said, we discussed this towards the end of the committee meetings and everybody agreed four years was too long. One year was probably too short, and on reflection two years is happy compromise.

I welcome the opportunity to speak. I recently undertook a cost-of-childcare survey, with parents sharing their experiences. I raise that because I was somewhat taken aback when talking about that topic by how many people responded to talk about how much they are struggling in general with the cost of living and, in particular, they referenced the area of trying to meet the rising cost of home heating fuels. It is very difficult. We have had several debates in this Chamber in regard to the increased costs but it is…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that the cost of childcare fees, which now range from an average of €800 to highs of €1,350 per month per child are causing a generation to put their lives on hold, impacting decisions to start or expand their families, to return to work and putting household finances under immense pressure; notes: — the inadequacy of the new Core Funding Stream for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare which will be extended to childcare providers on condition that they freeze fees …

It is an extra €267 million.

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle. On a brief point of clarity, it is an additional €267 million on top of what the Government is spending.

I thank everybody who has contributed. I welcome that fact that the motion is not being opposed by the Government and I have no difficulty supporting the Labour Party amendment. I was struck by the amount of unity in the House, on all sides, including the Government side and across the Opposition side. The same key issues keep coming up, which include the worry and concern that the small providers have, particularly those that are only running facilities under the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme. W…

I welcome the opportunity to speak about the situation currently unfolding in Ukraine and the devastating impact it is having. I will focus on the issue of children. I acknowledge the work done to date by the various Departments and Ministers. I am aware that much of the work is the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O’Gorman, and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. The circumstances are unprecedented. A huge amount of work has been don…

They are not grouped together. We will stick with Question No. 71.

I thank the Minister.

I am sorry, Minister. Deputy Connolly may respond.

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Ó Laoghaire wishes to ask a brief question on this.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to these statements on International Women's Day. I have just stepped out temporarily from the Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, where we are discussing a large number of amendments to the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022, which, as we know, came as a result of the mother and baby institutions. That is one of the negative parts of our history and of how we treated women and children. I will focus primarily on the early yea…

First, I commend my colleague, Deputy Tully. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I was not present for the start of the debate. I have two minutes so I wish to be focused. As other Deputies have said, it is very frustrating when parents are waiting. Even if it is not for the assessment of needs, it can be for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. I am encountering many parents who are trying to borrow money, perhaps from a credit union but often, worryingly, from moneylenders or from family…

I thank the Minister for his contribution. We welcome this legislation. I wish to acknowledge all of the babies and children about whom we are speaking. Sometimes, there are no words to describe a tragic situation. As the Minister stated, we owe Catherine Corless a great debt of gratitude. She was actually in the Chamber for the pre-legislative scrutiny discussions. It was during Covid and, thankfully, we were able to open the Chamber up to a number of people. It was fitting that she had the opportunity to address …

Deputy Stanton wants to come in on this.