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Op-Ed: Finland’s childcare is state-run, cheap, and plentiful — why can’t Ireland do it?

Published: Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Op-Ed: Finland's childcare is state-run, cheap, and plentiful — why can't Ireland do it? We feel incredibly privileged to have this excellent system for our kids, and the thought of having to go back to Ireland to try...

Op-ed: Our children deserve early years education that prioritises their needs over profits

Published: Thursday, September 03, 2026

Opinion: Our children deserve early years education that prioritises their needs over profits Elaine McQuillan, CEO, StartBright Published on 3 September 2026 in the Irish Examiner We have become so used to thinking of childcare as big business...

Op-ed: The lack of options meant I had to turn down my dream job

Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Amy Greer Murphy, freelance social researcher and mother of four. Published on 10 June 2026 in the Journal CHILDMINDERS, CRÈCHES, THREE hours a day ECCE places, au pairs, after-school care… It’s a mind-boggling juggling act trying...

Corrinne Hasson: Gender-based violence - It’s time to recognise survivors as experts by experience

Published: Friday, May 01, 2026

Lavinia Kerwick. Aisling Vickers. Natasha O’Brien. Hazel Behan. Nikita Hand. Ciara Mangan. Margaret Loftus. The list could go on. All of these women are survivors of gender-based violence. By taking a stand and speaking out publicly, they, together...

Doireann Crosson: Contraception is free, but it’s not reaching everyone who needs it

Published: Monday, April 27, 2026

The Free Contraception Scheme introduced in 2022 has been one of the key advancements for women’s health in recent years, reaching over 200,000 women. Ground-breaking in its aims, the scheme intends to make contraception free to every woman who needs...

Corrinne Hasson: Women are waiting nine years for endometriosis diagnosis

Published: Thursday, April 02, 2026

According to the World Health Organisation 1 in every 10 women worldwide has endometriosis. In Ireland, we don’t have official data on how many people suffer from endometriosis, which is unfortunately a common theme for women’s health. However,...

Corrinne Hasson: Caring for children affects women more, and a change is needed

Published: Monday, March 09, 2026

The time between the birth of a child and their first day of school is both a lifetime and the blink of an eye for parents. The support society provides to parents during this time is essential. Paid leave from...