Elaine Loughlin: Babies' visits to Oireachtas highlight childcare challenges that parents face

Parents — notably, both mothers — brought their babies along to their workplace in the Dáil and Seanad recently. Their visits underline how far we have to go to facilitate all working parents

In recent weeks, four females have made history in both the upper and lower houses of the Oireachtas.

Returning from maternity leave, Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne became the first elected representative to bring her child into the Dáil chamber.

The Clare TD, whose daughter Collins Montaine was by her side during a late-night vote, said she was proud to pave the way for mothers to feel comfortable with their children in the chamber in future.

While Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl joked that Collins was the “first actual baby” to enter the chamber during a sitting, the significance of her attendance should not be diluted or diminished.

Independent Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne (above) brought her baby, Collins, into the Dáil chamber last month. And more recently Senator Eileen Flynn brought her daughter Billie into the Seanad chamber. Picture: Alan Farrell TD/Twitter

The historic occasion was followed last week by Billie Whyte, who attended the upper house with her mother, senator Eileen Flynn.

Ms Flynn used her speaking time to make a clear point that racism should not be tolerated by public representatives.

In a contribution that would have been notable even without her daughter there to witness it, but which was amplified by the presence of the babbling toddler, Ms Flynn said: “My child is here beside me and she cannot help that she is a full member of the Traveller community and a full member of the settled community.

“She was born into this world. This is just like we cannot help if we are working-class people, if we are black people, or if we are Traveller people.

“We did not ask to be brought into the communities that we have been, but we are trying to make the most of it. The last thing we need is public representatives making our lives any more difficult." 

In welcoming the “newest member” of the House, Seanad chairman Mark Daly, thanked his colleague for bringing her daughter into the House.

“She will add a lot to Seanad Éireann to new ways of thinking and doing things,” he said.

Symbolism is always important, but the appearances of both children should not be treated as a temporary distraction along the halls of Leinster House.

In bringing their daughters into their workplace both mothers (the very fact that it was two women is also an important sidenote) shone a light on the daily “juggle struggle” as fellow Irish Examiner columnist Joyce Fegan recently described it.

Perhaps more importantly, it demonstrated that a working day no longer means nine to five, Monday to Friday, and, in a global environment, unconventional hours have become general practice.

Budget provisions 

Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has been rightly commended for finally recognising the financial burden childcare has imposed on families. The cost of paying creche fees has often been a key determining factor in whether parents continue to work.

Budget 2023 provided a landmark €1.025bn in funding for early learning and care, and for school aged childcare. It means parents using a full-time service will see their early childcare costs reduce by 25% on average as national childcare scheme funding gets a major boost.

From January, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare will receive a minimum hourly universal subsidy of €1.40. This is an extra 90c per hour off creche fees, and will amount to a yearly saving of around €2,000 for parents.

Private sector limitations 

But, in announcing the package to make childcare more affordable, the Government also made it clear that it has decided that subsiding formalised private providers is the now the chosen model.

The private sector, which understandably must operate on a model that is financially viable, does not, however, cater fully for a modern working week.

The practicalities of juggling work around creche hours was cited by Ms Wynne in bringing her daughter with her to the Dáil vote.

“I wasn’t sure if Collins was going to be allowed into the chamber,” she said. 

The creche closes at 6.15pm but your vote is so important, so I had no other option.

“It’s a learning curve, but it’s very positive. I can’t get over the welcome I’ve received.

“I’ve brought Collins to budget briefings and people have been really positive towards her and are telling me that it’s very welcome to see.”

While welcome, this option of course, is not a possibility for many working mothers and fathers.

As well as funding supports, more imaginative solutions would be welcomed by parents, many of whom feel they are in a never-ending race between Zoom meetings, creche drop-offs, office briefings, school pick-ups, and work.

In India, for example, employers with 50 or more employees provide creche facilities on or close to their workplaces. The guidelines, which are still being rolled out across various states, state that the creche facility must accept children between six months and six years.

Crucially, the facility opening time must align with the employers, and creches should be open for between eight to 10 hours.

Making childcare more affordable is the first step in creating a society where parents can at least have the hope of achieving what can be an elusive work-life balance.

Coupled with this, we must try to make childcare flexible enough to suit working lives.

Did you know? 

Those visiting Leinster House for the first time are often baffled and even concerned that nobody pays attention to what seem to be multiple alarms going off. The sirens are in fact three different types of bells which alert members to the start of business or votes that have been called.

Votes in the Dáil are sounded by a dull bell with a single ring (similar to the Angelus bell). The Seanad has a two-note bell, while TDs and senators are alerted to votes in the Seanad with a bell that sounds three higher-pitched notes in quick succession.

This week in years gone by 

1967

October 14: Under the headline ‘Socialist base for Labour policies” The Cork Examiner reported on a “major political statement” made by Brendan Corish which addressed the meaning of socialism in Ireland and the role of the Labour party.

“In one of the longest and most important speeches to come from an Irish Labour leader, Mr Corish outlined changes in the system of government, industrial and social welfare policy and the role of the banks and the profit motive.”

1975

October 12: In what was described as an “occasion for great joy and thanksgiving” Oliver Plunkett was declared a saint. 

He was the first Irishman to be awarded the honour in more than 700 years.

1985

October 15: While a public services strike dominated the front page, The Cork Examiner also reported on Cork Country Council, which, “teetering on the brink of financial disaster”, had been forced to draft an emergency proposal to give to the ministers for finance and environment. 

The council was expected to face a loss of £2.8m after the Irish National Petroleum Corporation had its valuation cut from £24,000 to £1,217 meaning a substantial loss in rates for the local authority.

1993

October 12: It was announced that Madame Tussauds in London was making a model of then president Mary Robinson. “It takes about six months to make the model after the sitting,” museum spokesperson Juliet Simkins said.

“Many of the famous figures choose to unveil their own models. It will be up to Mrs Robinson to decide if she wants to do the same.”

2009

October 13: Following a robust and protracted speech in defence of his record, John O’Donoghue stepped down as Ceann Comhairle. Reporting on the departure, then Irish Examiner political correspondent Shaun Connolly wrote: “He left office as he had lived it — detached from reality and gilt wrapped in grandeur. For a man so used to gold-plated services at the taxpayers’ expense, John O’Donoghue proved well able to serve himself when he needed to.”

The hot topics 

Eviction ban: The Government is coming under increasing pressure to ensure renters, struggling due to increasing energy bills, are not made homeless over the winter period. Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the Attorney General has been consulted on an evictions ban but he stressed that any measures must not force more landlords out of the market. All eyes will be on Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to see what plan he can come up with.

President Michael D Higgins is due to address the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also due to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) this week.

United energy front: Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will be in Brussels for another meeting of EU energy ministers on Wednesday as they try to thrash out a united approach to an energy price cap. They will also discuss block buying of gas and a longer-term overhaul of the energy market.