Large for-profit creche chains have been criticised for their reaction following the broadcast of a Prime Time programme on standards earlier this week.
Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Geoffrey Shannon criticised the chains for what he described as "their deafening silence" since the airing of A Breach of Trust.
He said he thought their silence was absolutely appalling.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Mr Shannon said an official response from the large chains was needed as to what they were going to do to address deficits in the system.
He said things would not change overnight but new standards to be published by Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald for the end of the year should be the basis for inspections.
Prohibitive consequences should hit the balance sheets of the big providers, he said, saying that is how you get real change.
Mr Shannon also called for a national register of child carers that parents could reference and for better training.
There needs to be significant State involvement in the provision of early childcare, he said, and it would be premature to remove the inspection regime away from the Health Service Executive.
Mr Shannon also said the large profits made by some centres needed to be a focus of attention.
On the prospects of childcare costs going up to fund a more robust inspection regime, he said the bottom line was about child protection and if that involved higher taxes then that was a difficult question to be answered by Government.
INMO rejects assertions over creche inspectors
Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has rejected assertions that public health nurses who are employed as inspectors of creches are not qualified for the job.
Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the INMO said the nurses are fully qualified to carry out the inspections and have the confidence of the HSE.
She said they have concerns about the current regulatory system, in that anyone can open a creche with inspection only happening after they are in business.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha also said there is a huge shortage of inspectors, which impedes their ability to carry out the number of inspections that would like to do.
The National Association of Private Childcare Providers said it was shocked and appalled at the Prime Time footage.
The association, which said it does not speak for every provider, will renew its efforts to "develop our association continuing to focus on high quality early years education".
