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PAY-RELATED MATERNITY benefit should be a focus of the next government, according to Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys.
Speaking to reporters today, the Fine Gael deputy leader said linking maternity benefit to income would not be carried out by the current government, but it should be something to aspire to after the next general election.
Changes to the Jobseekers payment, creating a sliding scale system to soften the financial loss that workers face when they suddenly lose their job is set to come into effect at the end of this year or early in 2025.
Unemployed people will get a benefit of 60% of their salary to a maximum payment per week of €450 for the first three months after losing their job, €375 for the next three months and €300 for the final three months.
At present, somebody who loses their job receives a Jobseekers Benefit payment up to a maximum rate €232.
Humphreys said it was something she was anxious to progress, but told the media today she would like additional steps to be taken to ensure such changes are also brought in for maternity benefit so as to “recognise the important role that mothers pan in terms of taking maternity leave”.
The weekly rate of maternity benefit is currently €274.
The minister said she didn’t want to see women suffer a cliff edge drop in their income when they avail of maternity leave.
“I’d like to think that as part of the next government it should certainly something that we should be aspiring to,” Humphreys said, indicated that she wants it to form part of the Fine Gael general election manifesto.
“It’s something I feel very strongly about, it’s about supporting the women of Ireland, who take time off, that they don’t have this sudden drop in their income whenever they go on maternity leave, it’s about supporting women in the workforce,” said Humphreys.
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What About all the paedophiles the ira/sinn fein protected through their kangaroo courts….I’m happy enough with 26 counties, maybe even 25, done gal can go too..
Make a separate country of the 7 counties
@hi from heaven: does that mean we won’t have to pay for the pyrite scandal.If so I’m in.
@hi from heaven: Doesn’t matter either way, in 10 years we’re all going speaking Arabic and praying 90 times a day.
@hi from heaven: you know nothing about earth never mind heaven.
@IzwvqAph: bigot
@IzwvqAph: I’ve been hearing that for the last 10 years bro
@Anthony Curran: Stephen likes to live in a fantasy world.
@hi from heaven: Go across the water with west Brit.
@Brendan O’Brien: Here Factor 50, shush. Get your wellies on, rain is forecast.
@Daniel Roche: Why don’t you go live up in Northern Ireland if you’re so worried about it
@Ger Whelan: I live in Ireland with the other 32 counties of Ireland. Why don’t you take your West Brit ship home.you won’t leave too much of a coward,people in the North of Ireland are as irish as me living in Limerick
@Ger Whelan: I’m worried about donegal,do I have to move to each irish County? You have shown your West Brit colours. Did your family take the soup, too? It explains a lot.
@Daniel Roche: Except you don’t. There isn’t a country called Ireland. There is an Island of Ireland which has 2 countries on it, the Republic of Ireland and Northern island. No amount of childishness from you will change that absolute fact..
@IzwvqAph: Speak for yourself.
Wow…not seen SF in the news in ages…something must be up
@Ash Pleed: they were hiding. But now they need an urgent distraction away from one of their bigwigs being charged with three murders.
@John Mulligan: ‘ one of their bigwigs’ ? I hope you’ve got proof after making such an accusation?
death penalty instead of review…vermin
@well done to all the rescue teams: No, death is too good for him let him rot is a 6×4 windowless jail cell for 24hrs a day. No daylight or contact with others until the day he finally dies
@Ger Whelan: sounds good too!
Jim Jennings of RTE content department is rumored to be joining The top of Disney movie dept.
@Stanley darsh: I doubt it…that man was very very very very very very very sick could not even make the pac hearings for a day, according to his doctor, and I very much doubt his doctor would lie
@hi from heaven: it’s a shame he had to leave, he had such an eye for quality and talent.
Ffg have been protecting child abusers since the foundation of the state and a section of irish society are turning a blind eye to vile abuse
I am pat cusack a victim of michael shine who was abused over 20 times by him in hospital. Anyone calling for justice for the 300 plus victims of shine is doing good.
I think some of the previous comments are irrelevant and un helpful. When will we ever cop on Shine will be shown after death of course to be the most prolific independent serial sexual abuser/paedophile in Europe if not the world..everyone should be calling for the truth..
have your say