Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)

These are very brief and I have a question afterwards. They read:

It is hard enough to go on maternity leave and feel guilty for your colleagues when you are being replaced. Imagine how hard it is when you are not being replaced. It is awful to have your boss put their head in their hands and go, "Great, well done".

The following was said by a boss to a female staff member who was pregnant, "You cannot plan your family around the troika". I maintain that by definition the moratorium discriminates against women.

I am very disappointed that the Minister states the closure of St. Colman's hospital is a matter for the HSE. The reason it has closed is because staff members are on maternity leave and this has been confirmed by the HSE. Staff on maternity leave cannot be replaced because of the rules which the Minister oversees. The HSE has confirmed that the respite service and the day care centre have been closed.

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