The needs and wellbeing of children must be given priority in all policy relating to the family.

Much comment has been passed on the shifting sands of Irish family life – increased marriage breakdown, the decline of the traditional two-parent family model, the increase in single parent families, the claims of people with same-sex attractions to rights and privileges traditionally reserved to marriage, the behavioural and adjustment problems faced by many children, teenage binge drinking etc.

Because of the sensitivities involved, there is a great reluctance among policymakers to ask the hard questions about what type of family forms should be promoted in the best interests of children. More research is needed into what works best for children, to guide our policies into the future.

Economically, we have developed a culture where it is increasingly difficult for families to be families. The high cost of housing, and poor transport infrastructure are conspiring to give parents less and less time with their children. Children are less supervised than in the past, despite the increasing influence of media and technology on their lives. There are major questions to be asked about the diet of consumerism, violence and sexual exploitation being served up to some very young children.

Are all of these factors contributing to the many educational, behavioural and adjustment problems faced by children today? I believe so. If elected, I will focus on family policy and, in particular, I will campaign on the following issues:

Family-friendly work practices and childcare arrangements

Parents should not have to choose between the twin goods of providing for their children and rearing them. The needs of families have been forgotten by policy makers who have focused too much on the economic bottom line.

The State must provide assistance for quality childcare arrangements within the workplace and in community-based settings, while requiring that employers play their part in providing appropriate childcare facilities.

Policy in this area should respect the choice of parents to decide what kind of childcare is most appropriate for their children and it should not discriminate against those who opt for home-based caring arrangements.

Tax Individualisation – time to remedy an injustice

There are about 307,000 married, single-income families in this State. Due to the introduction of tax individualisation in recent budgets, these families are at significant tax disadvantage compared with families where both parents are working.

A married couple with children, surviving on a single income, could be paying up to €6,240 more tax each year than a double income couple on the same total earnings, who may or may not have children.

If the double-income couple separates, they may each qualify for lone parent allowances, leaving the single-income, intact, couple almost €10,000 euro worse off after tax is paid.

These tax policies mean that a parent who might want to opt for full time parenting while his/her spouse earns the family income, simply can’t afford to do so. State policy is trapping parents in the workplace. This is an unacceptable interference with family life.

It would cost an estimated €700 million to reverse this situation. The Government should address this inequity over several budgets, but the tax individualisation policy should be scrapped completely.

Alcohol Abuse – prevent the misery

Binge drinking and alcoholism is causing misery in many families, puts pressure on our health services, and deprives the community of the active citizenship of those affected.

The economic costs to the Irish Exchequer of this alcohol-related harm amounts to more than €2.65 billion per annum [2004 Strategic Task Force on Alcohol].

The problem has deep roots in Ireland and only a combined effort from Government, sporting organisations, the churches, schools and parents’ associations can hope to combat it.

The drinks industry is responsible for many people’s salaries, including in the areas of advertising and sponsorship of events. But many younger people are being exposed to messages which link alcohol consumption with sporting prowess, popularity among peers and personal wellbeing.

It is time to break the link between alcohol and major sporting and cultural events. And consideration should be given to the exclusion, on a phased basis, of alcohol advertising from print and broadcast media.

In addition, those industry players who generate large profits from the sale of alcohol should contribute to public health and other costs that result from their consumption. A levy on the profits of alcohol producers and marketers would help defray the social and economic costs of alcohol abuse and it would help to fund educational and promotional campaigns aimed at reducing alcohol-related problems.

Standards in TV, Cinema and Advertising – children matter most

It is increasingly difficult for parents to monitor television programmes, DVDs and computer games to determine their suitability for younger children. Less time is available for educating children to discern between appropriate and inappropriate material.

But should parents have to deal with this problem on their own? Our ‘free market’ approach means there are very few restrictions on what can be shown on mainstream TV or sold in shops. Very often, material which should be available only on a restrictive basis, ends up in the mainstream.

The areas of advertising and programming taste and suitability are now the subject of codes which, in the case of broadcasting, are implemented and enforced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

I believe that a council representing the interests of parents primarily should have major input in this area. There must be ongoing review of these codes to ensure that high standards are maintained in broadcasting. And it is time for a more robust system of film, video and DVD classification.

We live in a media-saturated cultural environment. Our children and teenagers are bombarded with commercial and political messages. Literacy traditionally meant being able to read and write, but increasingly critical literacy is needed for our young people to understand the influence that media and marketing can exert on their lives. Consideration should be given to incorporating media literacy modules in both primary and secondary
schools to equip young people to understand the media messages and to resist
media and marketing pressures on their behaviour.

A health service with a focus on excellence, efficiency and equity

Our health service should operate according to the principle that all members of society should be cared for in a similar fashion.

Policy on health should strive to promote excellence and value for money by encouraging competition among healthcare providers.

We should move to a system of universal health insurance, with the State paying for the premiums of poorer members of society according to a reasonable means test.

We need more efficient application of the current €14 billion health spend, and a greater focus on the need to cut down on waste.