Dr. Joan Cronin

I suppose from a family perspective, my decision has always been accepted and it's never been challenged by my family or by my friends.

But then I've always known that I didn't want to have children.

I suppose for me, non-motherhood is as natural as motherhood is to other women.

But no doubt, David, there is still a stigmatisation around it.

I suppose, David, women are always going to have children.

Yes, there's no doubt that the financial crisis and the instability in the world is having an impact on the number of children women are having.

They're always going to have them.

I suppose one of the things we could look at, the Nordic countries are very advanced when it comes to parental policies and support for women and indeed men, fathers and mothers.

So I suppose what they have introduced, Sweden in particular, have introduced this gender equal foundation.

So they have 480 days

paid shared parental leave and reduced working hours.

And that's legislated.

Now, women in Sweden and those countries are still having less children, but quite a few are still having children.

So they're supported financially.

And I agree completely with Mary.

There should be more subsidised childcare, you know, and incentives like that.

It is much, much less attractive.

But nonetheless, people are still having children and they are still getting married.

It's still a very popular life choice.

So I think like finance is just one of the many reasons, you know, linked to the housing crisis.