Sir, - I do not often find myself in agreement with Medb Ruane, but I would like to congratulate her on her timely and extremely pertinent comments on the report of the Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare (Opinion, February 8th).
Your Editorial of the same day concludes with the statement that the outcome for families will depend on the political debate that takes place between now and Budget day. Journalists will have a key role to play in this debate and Ms Ruane has gracefully articulated the case for those families who are in danger of being overlooked because their contribution to social progress cannot be measured in economic terms, i.e., low-income families and parents who wish to look after their own children.
It will be a great service to this country if The Irish Times can keep its columns open to a reasoned and measured debate on issues affecting the family in 1999. Well done. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Orla Halpenny, Queen's Park, Monkstown, Co Dublin.