Sir, - The initiation of talks between the social partners on the issue of childcare was reported widely on January 13th. The business community, as represented by Brendan Butler of IBEC, has apparently learned little from the response of many Irish people to Mr McCreevy's recent budget. IBEC continues to demand tax measures to pay for childcare despite the now oft-cited point that such measures are of no benefit to those unable or unwilling to work outside the home. IBEC's concern is to convert mothers to employees; it is all about money and competitiveness, not about children.
Mr Butler is reported as saying that "primarily it was the State who should be looking after our young children". Taken at its face value, this is an extraordinary statement and represents a philosophy of life that the Green Party would vigorously oppose. It stands to reason that the parents of children have the primary responsibility for their welfare. Logically, parents, grandparents and close family members are the very best carers that children can have. Who would want less for their children? If both parents feel obliged to enter the external workplace for economic reasons, then that is to be regretted and the whole underlying economic system which makes this happen should be questioned. But that is another story for another day.
The Green contribution to childcare proposes to value all members of society, including those who work in the home, through an unconditional basic income payment. Meanwhile, we would support the position taken by Ms Orla O'Connor, a spokesperson for community and voluntary groups, who asked that childcare support be given in the form of child benefit, which gives all parents assistance and the choice as to how to deploy that assistance. - Is mise,
Trevor Sargent TD, Green Party Spokesperson on Finance, Dail Eireann, Dublin 2.