Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I start by offering our solidarity to all those who have lost and suffered during this pandemic and indeed all those who have lost their jobs. I give a shout-out to the thousands of Debenhams workers who are protesting outside closed stores today. We should remember the impact on their lives too. I have something to give to the Taoiseach, so he should chalk it up, because it is not often that he will get anything from me. I will leave it at the desk in front of the Ceann Comhairle for the Taoiseach to collect. It is a petition from more than 25,000 of our citizens, who are calling for the extension of maternity leave and benefit for women who are currently on maternity leave. As was mentioned earlier, we met them outside the Dáil this morning and they handed over this petition. I thank those new mothers for the work that they have put into it. I thank Uplift and the National Women's Council for supporting them. I am sure, as a doctor, that the Taoiseach understands the stress and anxiety that new mothers face in having to return to work in normal circumstances.

In these circumstances that stress and anxiety are enormous. They also face the possibility of having absolutely no childcare, with no option of relying on their families.

I raised this issue with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It seems that this is a parcel that is being passed around. I welcome the opportunity to address the Taoiseach on this. Before he answers, I want to say that I do not accept the excuse that this requires primary legislation. I welcome the extension of the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme to those on maternity leave, introduced in this House a week or two ago. That requires retrospective legislation. The same can be done with this. I do not accept that we cannot do it. The cost of extending this to all those mothers who would be entitled to it for three months which was quoted to me by Deputy Regina Doherty, some €134 million, is a pittance compared to what we are prepared to pay out to industry or what we normally pay out to the greyhound and horse racing industries. The contribution to society of these mothers and their babies is well worth it.

This would be a brave move by the Taoiseach. There is a similar campaign in Britain. The Taoiseach could take the lead. Does he have the political will to make sure that this happens and that legislation is introduced retrospectively? Rather than putting this stress, anxiety and worry upon these families, will he allow them to stay on maternity leave with benefits for an extra three months? He should remember that many of these new mothers are lone parents. They really need the financial assistance that goes with the extended leave. It is not a question of taking unpaid leave or relying on parental leave. They need to be treated as a special case during the Covid-19 crisis. Any excuse concerning legislation is unacceptable. We have extended and changed legislation relating to evictions, planning laws, labour laws and employment laws. This can be done for the mothers and children of this country, who are worth every penny and every move the Taoiseach can make.

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