Vol. 413 No. 1
10 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour if he has yet received the report of the working party on child care; if he will outline the main recommendations of the report; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The working party on child care who have representation from ICTU, FIE, the Departments of Health and Labour and the Irish expert on the EC child care network are continuing their deliberations having regard to recent developments especially the NOW programme and also the proposed Council recommendation on child care. I understand that the report will be completed shortly. It will then be examined by my Department. It is likely that the conclusions and recommendations will be published.
I should like to congratulate the Miniser on his appointment and wish him a less strenuous time here than he had as Minister for Agriculture and Food, although it is strenuous reading out these long answers.
The Minister will thrive on it.
In the case of this less long answer, the Minister might advise the Secretary of his Department and his officials that I was given an identical answer on 10 July. The Ceann Comhairle will prevent me from reading it out but the Minister can take my word for it. If this report was to be published shortly, within two months, on 10 July will the Minister say why it has not been completed? Can he give the House any explanation for this?
The delay was due in part to the need to take account of current developments in the NOW programme which the Deputy is probably more familiar with than I am at this stage and also the proposals for a Council recommendation on child care. The task force to which I referred also wish to take account of the draft Council recommendation on child care which is currently a priority of the Netherlands Presidency. Having said that, I am glad to be able to tell the Deputy that a meeting of the working party has been arranged for the coming week to consider these issues and discuss the final report with a view to presenting it.
Having regard to the Minister's reply, may I invite him to say something to the House about his views as Minister for Labour on the critical question of child care?
The Deputy, and the House, will agree that it would be a little presumptuous to give my view before I receive this very important working party report. I would prefer to be a little more informed when I could give my personal and official view. The Deputy will have to wait only a week or so for this.
