IRELAND is the only country in the European Union which has no day care policy for infants and pre school children with parents in the workforce, Ms Martina Murphy told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Women's Rights yesterday.
Ms Murphy, chairwoman of the National Childrens' Nursery Association, said that without the 400 members of her organisation, many working mothers would be unable to reconcile family and work responsibilities.
Mr Cian O'Tighearnaigh, the chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, who also addressed the committee, told members that Ireland should look to Sweden, which had not attempted to "reconcile" working and parenting but had provided chances for people to "re order" their lives to include children.
Yesterday's meeting was one of many by the Women's Rights Committee which will be devoted to childcare.
