As government formation talks gather pace, many women will be marking Nollaig na mBan, also known as Women’s or Little Christmas, today. It is the day women traditionally take a rest, get together and celebrate their Christmas while men do the housework.

It is a well-earned break. Because never is the gendered division of labour more apparent than at Christmas. From the physical and emotional labour of managing a household to the extra care work involved at Christmas, it is far from a time of rest for most women.

But unrecognised care work is not just for Christmas. According to research carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), from one end of the year to another, women carry out twice as much unpaid care work and housework as men.

And so the message today from many women to those negotiating the next government and its programme is clear: we need radical change over the next five years.

The deal breaker for the advancement of women’s equality in the next political term is public childcare. Currently, the lack of affordable, accessible, quality childcare means women........

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