Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair for the opportunity to speak on this very important legislation. It drives me mad sometimes, and it is very often the case, that we sit in the Chamber late on a Thursday afternoon to discuss what is very much a woman's issue.

I understand that the Minister of State is not responsible for scheduling this debate. I intend no criticism of him, but it always seems like we end up here on a Thursday during what is, effectively, the graveyard shift. I hope we might be able to find a more appropriate time and use it as a showcase for issues that only affect women. We do not like being consigned to the graveyard shift. I say that just in case the Minister of State thinks we do not mind.

I support the objectives of this Bill. I sincerely thank the six councillors who gave their time to the working group. As we are here discussing the demands on councillors' time, this was another demand. They did fantastic work. I particularly want to thank my colleague, Councillor Joanna Byrne, who, along with her colleagues, put her heart and soul into getting this right and making sure it was done correctly.

There is no doubt that the passing of this Bill will be a significant improvement for elected representatives and their children and families. I will probably be a bit grandiose in making the following point, but it will be an improvement for the democratic process as a whole. For many years, Sinn Féin has been campaigning for improved conditions and benefits for our county and city councillors. One of our core demands during this time was maternity leave and structures that would facilitate remote working and assistance for public representatives. It has been known for some time that the lack of maternity leave and an effective system for supporting public representatives who take leave after the birth of a child is a barrier to women standing for election; it just is. I was a union official for many years, and it goes against everything I believe and hold true that there is strong legislation such as the Maternity Protection Act 1994 from which any person is excluded, much less somebody who undertakes a public role. We should move in the direction - and I am glad we are - where all workers have the benefit, regardless of what their job is, of the Maternity Protection Act 1994.

The difficulties that were faced by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in arranging maternity cover, shone a spotlight on the failings of the political system when it comes to supporting women before, during and after pregnancy. Granted, a solution was arrived at in the Minister's case but it was a bespoke solution that was on an as-and-when-required basis, which is not helpful and which sends a poor message out to any young woman who is looking at this. When you become pregnant, you are starting a family and then it is discussed in the news as something which is awkward, which could potentially cause a constitutional crisis and about which we have to have a lot of discussion and column inches. That sends a bad message. I hope that any young woman who is considering a career in politics will tune in and see that there is broad support for the supports being put in place for women.

We are looking at the introduction of workable maternity leave for council representatives, as well as scope for mechanisms such as the co-option of temporary substitutes and remote working. That is welcome. It is a shame it has taken this long to get this legislation to where it is. Notwithstanding that, however, it is extremely welcome. We need to start looking at how we can extend it out to every person. There should be a facility for maternity leave and time off to be available to all public representatives.

The support, understanding and goodwill in the context of delivering maternity leave for public representatives has not always been there. I want to reference the treatment of my party president, Deputy McDonald, when she was an MEP and had the audacity to take a very short amount of time off post pregnancy. Many newspaper articles were written at the time criticising her attendance rate in the European Parliament. This was criticising a woman for taking a tiny amount of maternity leave, which every other woman in the State would have a legal and lawful entitlement to do. I will not forget how many women's right organisations and NGOs remained silent at the time. I hope they will reflect on their silence and the fact that it spoke volumes. We heard it and young women who were watching heard it. That was then and this is now. It is welcome to see moves to provide protected maternity leave and the relevant supports for councillors.

I want to finish by asking the Minister of State not to waste any time in publishing the regulations that will allow for the provision of administrative support to elected representatives who do not opt for temporary substitutes. I refer here to the provision of remote voting.

I again voice my support for the objectives of this Bill. I commit myself and my party to working with the Minister of State to ensure that it will be enacted as soon as possible.

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