Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To continue from where I left off last night, I firmly believe that this would not have been the right thing to do and that an election would only have delayed a wide range of vital legislation, such as the Bill before us tonight. Either way, as a back bench Deputy who has recently successfully introduced an Act of the Oireachtas, the most obvious provision in this Bill which should be highlighted is the extension of entitlement to maternity benefit and maternity leave for mothers of children born prematurely beyond the 26 weeks already provided for. For me, this is yet another example of how the concept of new politics can work to deliver real change in Dáil Éireann for the people on the ground in our constituencies on issues which need to be addressed.

With regard to this provision in particular, we all thought and agreed that this proposal, which originally came from the Green Party, made sense, was workable and affordable, had the support of families on the ground and was sensible to introduce. For that reason, I am delighted to see it included in the Bill. I firmly believe that good political ideas and good policies should be supported in parliament, regardless of who they come from. The concept of new politics has ended the prospect of fracking for shale gas and oil being permitted to occur in this country and it has now introduced this additional maternity cover for mothers who give birth prematurely. I believe that new politics will continue to deliver these changes, for however long it is permitted to continue.

This Bill also provides for yet another positive measure aimed at supporting the transition from unemployment into employment by enabling the continuation of the back-to-work family dividend. The existing legislation had the effect of closing the scheme to new claimants from the end of March 2018 and the closure of the scheme in its entirety from 2021. This Bill will stop that closure and is part of the common sense approach to keeping people in the workplace and making work pay being taken by the Minister. I applaud her for this approach as many people in my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim would have been affected by the original rule.

This Bill continues the positive trend of increasing the levels of weekly social welfare payments, which will be a benefit to many pensioners, carers, jobseekers and people living with disabilities.

See this speech in context