Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Lorraine Clifford-LeeLorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I formally give notice to this House that Senator Flynn and I have entered a pairing arrangement for the next six months. The Senator and her husband, Liam, welcomed a baby girl a couple of weeks ago.I would like to extend my congratulations to Eileen, Liam, big sister Billy and the wider Flynn and White families on the safe and happy arrival of baby Lacey.

It is an important point that we look at our maternity arrangements for our female politicians and demonstrate in a visible way that women here in the Seanad and in the Dáil can actually take maternity leave and the culture in the Houses of the Oireachtas is changing. I commend the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on the leadership she showed a couple of months ago when said she was going to take six months' maternity leave. That was a powerful message and that type of leadership changes culture. Four and a half years ago when I was a Member of this House and I gave birth to my son, such arrangements were not in place, it was not spoken about and you were almost afraid to ask about it. It is important we talk about it, that women are seen to be supporting other women in the Seanad and in the Dáil, and that they take that time with their newborn babies and with their families.

I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the lack of maternity leave for our local authority members. Local authority members have absolutely no arrangements, formal or otherwise, and that is a very big barrier. It has been recognised by many studies and members themselves as a barrier to entry and retention of the female members. We all know the important role councillors play and the difference they make in their local communities. We also know the vast majority of women who make it into the Dáil and the Seanad came through their local authority. If women are not being elected to and staying on local authorities and getting their experience, we will not see female Ministers, we will not see a woman in the Taoiseach's office. I commend Councillor Mary Hoade, the former president of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG , who before she left office presented a very important document called Pathways to Maternity Leave. I call on the Government to act on that, implement measures, and support adequate maternity arrangements for female local authority members, because without it our democracy is being impacted.

I also commend Senator O'Loughlin on her suggestion for St. Brigid's Day being formally recognised. That is coming from Lorraine Brigid here.

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