Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS LEADER Holly Cairns has said that it is “truly incredible” that there is still no formal arrangement to allow TDs to take maternity leave.
“Politics in Ireland has long been male dominated. If we ever want to see that change, and attract more women into politics, then things like maternity leave must be addressed. This should be the bare minimum,” she told The Journal.
The Cork South-West TD announced over the weekend that she is expecting her first child, joking that the happy news had been “quite literally” getting “harder to keep under wraps” over recent weeks.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Sunday with Miriam show, Cairns said she is also considering “potentially pausing” her maternity leave if a general election happens at an unexpected time.
However, Cairns is highlighting that while women have a right to take 26 weeks of maternity leave in Ireland, there is still no law to allow politicians to take it, despite repeated promises that it would be introduced. Instead, female TDs have to rely on an ad-hoc goodwill arrangement.
“For as long as maternity leave is unavailable, the State is preventing women who may wish to have children from entering politics,” she said.
“The same barriers just aren’t there for men – it would be impossible to count the number of male TDs, party leaders and Ministers who have had children during their term of office since the beginning of the State. The number of women who have done the same is shamefully low.
“These barriers don’t just deny many women the opportunity to become political representatives, it also limits the diversity of views and voices in the Oireachtas.”
Much has been said about moves to legislate to allow for politicians to take maternity leave, but the pace of change has been slow.
The matter came into sharp focus in 2020 when Justice Minister Helen McEntee announced she was expecting her first child.
At the time, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it did not reflect well on a modern democracy that maternity leave could not be provided for female politicians.
In the end, an ad-hoc arrangement was put in place for McEntee, who has since had her first child and second child, but the legislation has still not been changed.
The Justice Minister’s case also highlighted other issues that can arise when TDs have to take periods of absence.
One example came last year when Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne had been paired with McEntee for Dáil votes – meaning that Wynne would intentionally abstain from votes so that the government wasn’t penalised by McEntee’s absence.
However Wynne broke the pairing for the eviction ban legislation, voting against the Government while McEntee was on maternity leave.
In 2021, Cairns entered into a pairing agreement with McEntee who was maternity leave with her first child.
At the time, the Social Democrats leader described the lack of maternity leave provisions in place in the Dáil as a “blatant deterrent” to women entering politics and called for formal pairing arrangements to become “standard Dáil etiquette”.
While there has been no change for politicians in the Dáil to date, in December 2022, statutory maternity leave for councillors was introduced for the first time.
Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman outlined earlier this year his commitment to introducing practical and effective maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas.
“Legislative proposals to provide for this leave are currently being developed and will be brought forward in the equality amendment Bill I hope to present for pre-legislative scrutiny in the near future,” he said in February.
Cairns said that the introduction of statutory maternity leave for councillors was a welcome step in the right direction and gave hope that similar measures for Oireachtas members would shortly follow.
“However, progress on this issue has moved at a glacial pace, despite Minister Roderic O’Gorman recently reaffirming his commitment to introducing practical and effective maternity leave for TDs and Senators.
“Regrettably, there appears to have been almost no process on this crucial legislation. Progress, if it is to come, will likely not happen now until there is a new government in place,” said the Social Democrats leader.
In November 2021, a forum – which the Social Democrats leader was a member of – published a report including recommendations to make it easier for politicians to have families.
Among those recommendations was the introduction of a proxy voting system as adopted by other parliaments around the world, including in the UK, whereby a politician on maternity leave can nominate another MP to vote in their place, as well as the introduction of a panel of pairs in place of individual arrangements.
It is understood that it is the government’s intention is to bring forward legislation as part of the review of the Equality Acts which is due to come to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Martin should be reminded we are a neutral country. The Irish people want nothing to do with a war with Russia
@Says I: Russia inflicted this war on Ukraine. Millions became refugees. Every country in Europe now hosts these refugees. Every country in Europe now has something to do with this war, militarily or otherwise. Russian aggression has affected every country in Europe in so many ways. Russia needs to withdraw its orc forces and go home. Putin is a lunatic.
Also, congratulations on being selected to speak on behalf of “the Irish people”. Your family must be thrilled.
@honey badger: On the subject of speaking for the Irish People,shur someone has to while we wait for Nina Carberry to show up ?
@Gerry Campbell: I’m happy to wait. The Irish electorate booted out Daly, Wallace, and MacManus. The embarrassments were escorted from the premises.
@honey badger: Putin is a lunatic…all so cute and dry for you isn’t it…create a bogeyman and lemons like you get right behind it.
@Says I: The Irish people are happy to support Ukraine’s war of self-defence.
@Says I: We need to change the rules around the appointment of EU Commissioner’s they should be directly elected by the people at the ballot box. This is a Republic
@honey badger: will you ever give over talking rubbish
@Gerry Campbell: Carberry odd on bluffer, perfect for the job with her political experience
@K O: No, sorry. I’m always happy to point out the despotic lunacy of Putin, the effects of his invasion of Ukraine, and then laugh at the eagers fluffers who hawk tuah all over the paranoid mafia don.
@honey badger: yawn, your still talking rubbish and absolute joke.
@honey badger: You refuse to condemn Israeli war crimes while you bang on incessantly about Russia. Israel has killed more children in a few months than all global conflicts (including Ukraine) combined over the last three years. Your Hypocrisy is astonishing
@honey badger: agree. However, with all the finger pointing by the US and NATO, why was it Sweden dropped the Nord Stream terrorism case? Did they find out who did it but couldn’t hack it?
@David Murray: who else should we elect directly? Judges? The head of the Garda Síochána? Senior cicil servants? An Taoiseach?
@Darth O’Leary: Your selective memory is betraying you again, Darthy! I’ve answered all your tedious questions and whataboutery. I couldn’t care less that you’re not happy with my replies! I told you previously that following me around insisting on new answers isn’t going to work. Please mute me and save your sanity! Your performative hysterics are entertaining, though!
Attacking me for criticising Russia is very odd, but not surprising. You keep on fluffing Russia, and I’ll keep on laughing at your terrible tantrums! :)
@Darth O’Leary: Gazans are listed as children until their nineteenth birthday (it helps with the handouts from UN). So, an eighteen year old with a grenade launcher is listed as a child when shot.
@Says I: we are militarily neutral, not politically neutral. Seems people need to be reminded of this reality again and again.
@Gerry Campbell: Another snide remarks about Nina Carberry. No doubt you were willing to vote for Gildernew an abstentionist MP, who took the queen’s shilling and didn’t turn up for work. Or you were willing to vote in as President a labourer who worked in an abattoir from age 15 – the correct description of his trade is considered toxic. Or the unfortunate electorate of Louth by a barman from the Duke of York – talking about the Coolies, wherever they are. Nina is from the South and a good person to represent us.
@Vincent Alexander: Celebrity Ye Right she didn’t answer any questions kept clear of the media No expierence in Politics Just put someone forward that is known & away we go totally wrong Maria walsh the same check what she done in 5 years there & u will have your answer
No, No, the banks were not bailed out. Michael Martin as Leader, of the Dáil. I wonder does he even know where he is today.
@Jimmy Donovan: He knows well. He lies to suit his narrative/goal.
@Jimmy Donovan: Mehole is a polished liar who knows exactly what he’s doing!
MM, our beloved FF leader , will nominate his gov lackey, and find what rewards they will receive for betraying the Irish people and virtually bankrupting our country filling it with illegal scammers. He makes you want to puke.
@Gerry Lamont: he doesn’t, but the racist and ignorant cohort do.
These people create their own self importance, They manufacture issues to justify a state fear and compliance while giving the impression of working on your behalf. In my opinion it’s a failed model that no longer works for the ordinary man and woman’s best interests.
@087 bed:
Yet support for the EU has risen in EVERY member country. (Pew Research)
Even the perennial EU haters , Orban, Le Pen , Meloni, Wilders etcetera have all dropped leaving the EU from their manifestos.
The one great achievement of Brexit was a curing of the vast majority of the population of the EU of any notions that we would be better outside.
@P. J.: Another Bot account to push the EU failed narrative, The UK is thriving in spite of the efforts to make things difficult by the EU, The only country feeling any pain is Ireland.
@087 bed: UK is thriving according to the tories, everyone else in england seems to disagree with you and them.
@P. J.: your facts don’t suit the Russians, I.e. the post above
Its only a few weeks since ffg where let off the hook by the voting public and over the last week evidence of there cronyism came out . Ffg appointed judge frees a man who beat a woman up on the streets and boasted about it on social media. Then we had a report that the nearly 3 billion euro children’s hospital diagnosed rooms aren’t wheelchair accessible, add in a 20% I increase in bus and rail prices , and it’s clear what ffg care about ,Themselves
Oink oink, snouts in the trough
The EU difference in treatment of Russia compared with Israel is sickening. It clearly shows the EU Commission is in lockstep with the senile delinquent, Butcher Biden.
@Denis Harkin: both Ukraine and Israel had to respond to heinous attacks on their homeland.
@Denis Harkin: I would certainly hope for a different approach to Russia, who unprovoked invaded their neighbours and I am not just talking of Ukraine, and Israel a country defending itself from hostile neighbours that want them wiped iut.
Also delighted that the EU is working with the elderly president to protect the only democracy in the Middle East.
The EU, and by extension, Ireland are sanctioning states that couldn’t hold a match to Israel when it comes to breaking international law and committing war crimes yet WE ARE NOT sanctioning Israel! This state of affairs calls into disrepute the entire sanctioning rationale of the EU. If we are seriously interested in fairness, justice and the rule of law then Ireland needs to take the ability to sanction foreign states, or not, back under our own purview. The EU has shown itself to be incapable of preforming this function and member states(Germany) are actually arming the Israelis. As a result of this we are in a union with countries complicit in war crimes and if we don’t change this state and affairs then we are complicit too.
@Darth O’Leary: I wonder will Micky Martin be the man to stand up for the rule of international law on behalf of The Irish Republic or will he blindly go along with this travesty?
With FG in charge our country is in safe hands
@John D Doe: waiting for the next crash, this time caused by fg. What will you say then? All the signs are there, hospitals, housing, gardai, navy, army all in a mess.
On de telly saying Aerlingus should get to the table and sort things out?!?!…… Maybe sort out the defence forces, conditions are a joke. But you want to muzzle them instead
Foley tipped for Minister for Finance?? Scraped into the last seat in Kerry , made Minister for Education on her first day in the Dail, and now mooted for Minister of Finance………Something very, very, very fishy going on there!!!
Leader of ukraine a bigger nutter than putin, Ukraine has nothing to do with irish politics, afraid to offend woke
have your say