Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before the recess, I tabled a motion calling on the Government to extend maternity leave for mothers who had babies during the pandemic, a challenging and difficult time. The Government's amendment stated that it would possibly look at extending parental leave and benefit in the next budget at some unknown time next year, a proposal totally irrelevant to the issue at hand. Earlier this week, I was contacted by a mother who had her baby at the end of April. She has since been suffering with post-natal depression. Both she and her husband are on the front line. Their childminder is in the at-risk group and they have been unable to get any childcare at all. They have no family living close by. What am I supposed to say to this mother and other mothers? At the start of this month, the Government introduced additional unpaid leave. Most families cannot afford to take unpaid leave.

The Taoiseach said on the floor of the Dáil a number of months ago that he would do the right thing on this issue. He has done nothing on this issue. There are mothers asking for his help.

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