This afternoon.
Leinster House, Dublin 2.
New mothers joined by TD Brid Smith (top left) and Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald (in pink pic 3) with a petition for the Taoiseach to extend the Maternity Payment ‘by a few weeks’ because of the Covid 19 Crisis .
Above from top: Andrea Simic with Nika (5 months); Tara MacDarby with Calum (4 months) ; Paula Solan with Quinn Leonard (20 weeks), and Amy McGivney with Ki (14 weeks),
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At a cost of 150 million.
We could get three masks each for that.
If not it will cost us our jobs as no childcare!
self interests to the fore again.
Look at the names they chose for the babies.
Classy
Remember it’s public money and before covid would never of got it
Before covid we had childcare options to return to work, slot of baby rooms in crèches cancelled and not taking new children when re open due to covid
Honestly, where does Brid smith think the money is coming from? She’s at every protest/rally in which the protesters want money…
she must know it’s not viable in any economy to just give out money from exchequer while also fund day to day expenditure and if she does, this is all optics, If she doesn’t she shouldn’t be anywhere near the dail.
Love the header Broadsheet
New mothers like myself have no childcare options as crèches are not taking on new babies when they reopen due to new restrictions etc. We have lost a lot of time with our families. Personally my baby has only met grandparents as I’m so afraid with this virus going around to have anyone else meet her. It’s a scary time to give birth, partner only allowed at actual birth when half way through labour and gone again half an hour after. No support groups to attend. Health visits dramatically reduced. Were told we have keep a 2 meter distance yet were expected to hand our babies over when they are 6 months old, where there can’t be a social distance for obvious reasons. People complaining due to the financial impact, we have been getting €245 weekly in comparison to the people claiming €350 for the pandamic payment. We did not benefit from that yet we will be expected to pay it back in our taxes when they are increased. Personally I will not be able to return to work as I will not have childcare until the crèche will take on new children