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Fianna Fáil’s senior TDs are pushing for the government to revive an offer to bring in maternity leave for Oireachtas members.
The lack of maternity leave for TD women and senators who have babies was called a “glaring flaw” and “disgraceful” last night.
It comes as Fine Gael Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that she is expecting a baby.
She will be the first member of the cabinet in the history of the state to become pregnant during her term. In its current form, TD women are not entitled to maternity leave and, in fact, have to offer a certificate of illness to have time off.
Ms. McEntee’s rights, if any, in her additional role as minister are unclear.
Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth was asked to submit a sickness certificate in 2016 when she had her daughter Juliet and said she was “shocked” that it was necessary as she was not ill.
Together with Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte, she proposed legislation to allow Oireachtas members to take at least 18 weeks of maternity leave with the option of an additional eight weeks.
The then minority government led by Fine Gael supported it, in principle, but identified a number of issues that should be addressed.
The bill expired with the dissolution of the last Dáil in January.
Ms Rabbitte, now junior minister of health, told the Irish independent he wants the bill revived and will raise the issue at this week’s Fianna Fáil party parliamentary meeting. She said: “If we are serious about increasing female participation in politics, this really needs to be addressed, as it is an obviously glaring deficiency.
“We have to bring Oireachtas into the 21st century when it comes to maternity leave.”
Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan suggested that if the bill cannot be reinstated in the House order document, the government could reintroduce it in new legislation.
He congratulated Ms McEntee on her news and said: “The fact that the Oireachta has not granted maternity leave to women is now disgraceful.”
Ms. Smyth wished Ms. McEntee and her husband Paul Hickey “the best” and added, “It’s a very exciting time ahead.”
Cavan-Monaghan’s TD said the goal of the legislation was “not to be selfish for politicians” but rather “to encourage women to participate in politics.”
He said there is still a long way to go to achieve gender balance in the Oireachtas and that further steps are needed to make the policy more familiar.
Ms Smyth said that there are some nights that she is in the Dáil until after 11pm and then she has to drive home to Cavan and get up at 6am the next morning to take her daughter to school before return to Dublin.
He said changes to the Dáil scheduling could bring improvements for TDs who are parents without making their work less effective.
Ms. Smyth said that she will work with Ms. Rabbitte to revive her bill.
Online editors
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