Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Standardisation is a nice, soft term that makes it sound like one is simplifying something or making it easier to understand. The reality is that this measure represents a €32 cut for 96% of mothers, or approximately 27,000 women.

For approximately 1,000 women, it will be an increase of €300 over 26 weeks.

People may have factored this cut into the costs that they must cover while out of work. It will force women to return to work earlier. The reality is that there is no choice for the majority of women. If a woman has a job, she must try to keep it. Taking time out while trying to keep a career going is difficult. We all know the cost of housing and, particularly in the first year, child care. In the private sector, the first year is costed differently than subsequent years.

The amendment would allow people time to factor this cut into whatever plans they might have for having babies, but the section and its impact on adoptive benefit should be opposed. The amendment would soften the section, but it does not get to the core of the problem. The section is likely to produce a poor outcome, with women returning to work earlier to make ends meet when they should be getting the maximum amount of time during the baby's first year, which is an important period.

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