Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Oireachtas.ie

'Maternity leave is a human right': TD calls for parental leave for TDs

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns says it is ‘incredible’ that it does not already exist.

A TD HAS called on the government to give maternity and paternity leave to TDs, senators and councillors.

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns said the lack of maternity leave in particular for female politicians is leading to a gender imbalance.

Cairns said a bill was put forward in 2017 to provide for maternity leave for sitting female county councillors but it has since lapsed.

“Incredibly this does not already exist. When I tell people this, they literally don’t believe me,” she said.

“Maternity leave is not a perk and it is not a pay rise. It is a human right. Female-dominated industries are often the undervalued and underpaid ones.”

We have to ask, if there were more women at the decision-making table, would this be the case? If there were maternity provisions for female politicians, would there be more of them at the decision-making tables?

“There are 36 women TDs here out of a total of 124. It is an absolute disgrace.”

The Cork South-West TD said the Taoiseach’s Fianna Fáil party returned a total of five women TDs out of 37.

“We can’t scratch our heads after every election and say – I wonder why we haven’t achieved greater equality when there is a glaringly obvious barrier for women.”

She called on Micheál Martin to introduce maternity and paternity leave for TDs, councillors and senators.

The Taoiseach replied: “I think that is a fair point. It should be provided – it is in other jurisdictions. I will follow up with you and keep in touch with you in relation to that.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 57 comments
Close
57 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
    Favourite Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:27 PM

    The guy asked for it, so what’s the issue?

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cowboys Ted
    Favourite Cowboys Ted
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:29 PM

    I don’t know what to make of this.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Carey
    Favourite Joe Carey
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:32 PM

    This news is only about 4 days old.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute IrishGravyTrain
    Favourite IrishGravyTrain
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 1:47 PM

    Thats a disgrace Dan. Anyone ring Joe?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Del Haven
    Favourite Del Haven
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 2:54 PM

    Dan, that’s terrible, I hope everyone is ok.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Waters
    Favourite Dan Waters
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:32 PM

    at a university’s student union S&M is now art, so 1970s

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall O Neill
    Favourite Niall O Neill
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:46 PM

    Did he call him a pansy, patsy or pussy?

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Meagher
    Favourite Dave Meagher
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 3:50 PM

    Pony

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane from Harlequin
    Favourite Shane from Harlequin
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 1:31 PM

    These people have too much time on their hands.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Girl
    Favourite The Girl
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:37 PM

    Who’s Shia LaB…?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jax Maxwel
    Favourite Jax Maxwel
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:34 PM

    Not much of a video with no sound, not much of a video with sound either I would imagine.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Walsh
    Favourite Derek Walsh
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 1:00 PM

    Imagine being in a lift with Shia LaBeouf and asking *him* to punch *you* in the face.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kirk Van Houten
    Favourite Kirk Van Houten
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:45 PM

    Your man’s accent is very annoying

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jho Harris
    Favourite Jho Harris
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 12:39 PM

    Have you got rid of your staff, who is Shia The Beef and why would anyone care what he thinks is art?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Johnston
    Favourite Sean Johnston
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 3:25 PM

    Actor who culturally debased himself by agreeing to appear in more than one Transformers movie continues to beg the worlds artistic community for forgiveness.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 5:57 PM

    For the money he was offered you’d have gotten Laurence Olivier to come back from the dead to star in it.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 3:38 PM

    A kick in the b0ll0x would be more arty

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Observer
    Favourite An Observer
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 2:38 PM

    Sure….why not?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tadgh Smith
    Favourite Tadgh Smith
    Report
    Feb 22nd 2016, 7:10 PM

    Meanwhile, in other news a picture of a Kitten on the internet today was adjudged to be “cute”.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds