Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support the Bill. It is a very important Bill for parents of young children to allow them time to bond with their child, regardless of whether they are the birth parent or adoptive parent. This past year has been incredibly difficult for new parents. They have had to do without the support of family and friends on whom they could normally rely for assistance when welcoming a new member to the family home. Parent and toddler groups were not able to meet. New parents could not rely on their own parents, siblings, neighbours or friends to help out or give them some respite, which would be the case in normal times.

One criticism I could make of the Bill is the time it has taken to bring it to this Stage. I am aware of numerous mothers who were scheduled to return to work after their maternity leave was finished, but due to the restrictions in operation they could not find childcare. In addition, the restrictions led to smaller quantities of children being catered for in childcare facilities and family members were not available to provide childcare. There was an existing issue pre-Covid regarding childcare for children under the age of one that needed to be addressed. Many mothers are being forced to take additional unpaid maternity leave even though they are not in a position to do so financially but they have no choice because they cannot return to work.

I welcome the removal of the anomaly surrounding the gender of adoptive parents. Parental leave is now open to adoptive parents regardless of gender. What is being proposed today is welcome but a lot more work needs to be done regarding the early childcare sector to make childcare more available and more affordable to parents and to improve the pay and conditions of those providing childcare, many of whom are highly qualified, with degree-level qualifications, yet are expected to work for not much more than the minimum wage.

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