Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her work on this topic. Anybody who has looked into the matter will understand the complexity of it all. Something being complex is not, however, an excuse not to act. It is our intention to put in place more permanent and durable solutions as opposed to the sticking-plaster version put in place for the Minister and for councillors around the country. One thing we need to bear in mind, which often does not come across in public debates, is that, while it is absolutely wrong that women politicians do not have maternity leave as a right, that is not necessarily for the reasons people think. Officeholders, politicians and judges are not employees. We have no employment rights. We have to look at these issues in the round.

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