Affordable and accessible childcare is the backbone of women’s equality. The only way to achieve this is for the State to take decisive action and overhaul the current system. Click here to read our ‘Roadmap to Public Childcare’ published in May 2026 calling on Government to take urgent action to end the childcare crisis.
Resources from ‘Recipes for Gender Equality’ held by NWC (Wednesday 26th November 2025) with the Together for Public Alliance, supported by The Communicating Europe Initiative.
Professor Jennie C Stephens (Maynooth University) presents on Transformative Climate Justice & Care
Building a Public System of Childcare for All – panel at NWC’s Recipes for Gender Equality
Panel 2 at NWC’s Recipes for Gender Equality (held on 26th November 2025) focused on how we can build an integrated public ECEC/family leave system that is affordable, accessible and inclusive for all – in Ireland and across the EU. It was chaired by Louise Bayliss (SVP – Society of St. Vincent de Paul Ireland with insights from:
- Darragh O’Connor (SIPTU)
- Maria Joyce (NTWF)
- Elaine McQuillan (Startbright Early Learning Centres)
- Alexandra Brennan (Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group)
- Anne Waithira Burke (AkiDwA Migrant Women’s Network In Ireland)