David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also spoke against this section on Second Stage and indicated that I would oppose it on Committee Stage. The Minister will be aware of my party's opposition to this measure. The latest cut to maternity benefit comes on the back of reduced maternity benefits dating from 1 July this year. As the Minister knows, they were subject to tax. The majority of maternity benefit recipients will now see their weekly payment cut by €32, which is a significant amount. It amounts to a cut of €832 over their six months leave.

For many new mothers maternity benefit is their only income during that time. Other Senators have spoken about mothers who are fortunate enough to have their maternity benefit supplemented by their employers. However, the cumulative impact of this Government's cut and the tax measure could see the benefit shrink by as much as €126, which is a potential loss of up to €3,276. In a written response to my party, Barnardos described this cut as anti-parenting, callous and unsupportive. That was that charity's view of this cut. Barnardos also pointed out that Ireland lags behind many EU countries in only offering six months maternity leave. We still have no paid paternity leave, which is also a problem. All of this will exacerbate the financial pressures on women. It will unfortunately force more women back to work earlier than they want to, when they wish to be with their children and look after them as much as they possibly can.

I would like to read some e-mails I have received from constituents. I am sure the Minister has also received them. Their views reflect how this cut will impact upon them. Public representatives can give their views which may be interpreted by the Minister as being political. It does no harm to remind ourselves of how these cuts impact on people out in the real world.

One lady told me that the recent cut to maternity benefit, following as it does so closely behind the taxation of this benefit that came into play in July, can be interpreted in only one way: "You don't want working women to have families." She continued: "I have been in full-time tax-paying employment since I was 19 years old, so I have now been working almost half my life. I am the only source of income in my family as my husband has been unable to find employment and we are not in receipt of any social welfare benefit. I oppose this cut."

Another person wrote: "Although the HSE publicly states that babies should be breastfed exclusively for six months, most women have to return to work somewhere around the baby's fifth month. Maternity leave must be taken at 38 weeks at the latest, and 37 to 42 weeks is a normal term. The HSE also encourages continued breastfeeding for two years in line with World Health Organization guidelines, but there is no support in legislation beyond six months. If you want healthy future taxpayers, you need to rethink your fiscal policies."

Another lady wrote: "Before the benefit was taxed, some of us were able to save a bit so that we could avail of some unpaid leave to extend the time at home. After the tax, maybe some of us could beg or borrow enough to do that, but after this latest budget many families will struggle to survive the six months paid leave." The final e-mail states: "We have one son born before the cuts, and it has been a major financial struggle so I can't possibly see how we could have another with these cuts."

That gives a flavour of the hundreds of e-mails I got. I am sure all Senators have received them on this issue.