Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is long overdue that we are making provision for maternity leave and maternity benefits for county councillors. The Bill also provides for the possibility of the co-option of a temporary substitute for an elected member who takes maternity leave or is absent due to illness. The Moorhead report looked at this issue and arising out of the report, a subgroup was convened to examine the issue further. I commend the work of this group, which comprises six female councillors, five of whom were nominated by each of the main parties in local government as well as an independent councillor. Councillor Joanna Byrne from Louth County Council participated in this work on behalf of Sinn Féin. The group met on a number of occasions and the Bill we see today is a result of the work it has been doing.

We in Sinn Féin welcome the Bill as a positive step forward. It is something we have been seeking for many years. The absence of maternity leave has been a significant barrier to women seeking election. It has also been an area of concern for those already elected who have had to juggle the care of a new baby with the expected level of service from the public. The committee also commented that where an elected member decides not to avail of a temporary substitute, administrative support should be available and remote voting should be made possible.

The pandemic encouraged many councils to explore online and hybrid meetings, including in my county, Kildare. We need to see funding made available by central government to allow all local authorities to bring their technology into the 21st century. There has been a long-running battle in Kildare to have meetings broadcast and recording facilities made available. This needs to become a priority. As well as improving transparency, it will improve public knowledge and increase interest in local politics.

We also need to ensure elected representatives have access to appropriate breastfeeding facilities. Recently at Kildare County Council we had a cross-party motion seeking a code of practice for employers to ensure councillors are able to participate fully in local government. It is clear we need to go further. The Government must also ensure maternity leave rights are extended to Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and officeholders in advance of the next general election. There is little point in gender quotas if we do not address the issues that make women think twice before putting themselves forward as representatives.

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