New legislation that allows cllrs take maternity leave welcomed

The passing of legislation allowing councillors to avail of maternity leave for the first time has been welcomed by Trim councillor Aisling Dempsey who has been very vocal on the issue that has long since been seen as a barrier to women entering politics.

With no provision for maternity leave, or administrative support, Cllr Dempsey continued her work as a councillor after her daughter Hannah was born in September 2021, even logging in to a council meeting from Mullingar Hospital, via zoom, the day after giving birth.

The issue of maternity leave for women in politics was also brought to the fore by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee who made history when she became the first cabinet minister to take maternity leave after the birth of son Michael in May 2021.

She is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her second son on 12th December. With no legislation in place, Minister McEntee was left as a minister without a portfolio for the six months of her leave.

Now for the first time, councillors will be entitled to take maternity leave following the passing of legislation by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 15th December.

The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Elected Members in Local Authorities) Bill 2022 means that elected members availing of maternity leave may nominate a temporary substitute to undertake the role and duties of a Councillor for a maximum of 42 weeks.

Those wishing to continue their work as a councillor while availing of maternity leave, may access an administrative support allowance to help her to maintain the running of her office. A weekly vouched allowance of €234 will be made available for this purpose.

Cllr Dempsey said: "I could not welcome more this Bill in relation to maternity protection measures for councillors. Having had Hannah in September 2021, I continued with my council duties - albeit mostly via Zoom. Without it and much family support, it would have been impossible to keep up with the workload.

"This is a real step change for women in politics and with minds turning towards 2024 local elections, it will hopefully encourage more women into politics. With only 25 per cent female representation nationally - Meath is slightly better at 30 per cent - but I still hope we can field more female candidates who will successfully sit on the council following the next elections.

"The Bill offers the councillor the opportunity to have someone stand in for them for a specific amount of time or what I would have found more helpful, administrative support.

"We need to ensure jobs like that of a councillor are accessible to all, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. Barriers like this being broken are another small step in that direction."

Newly appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs (EU Affairs) and the Department of Defence, Peter Burke also welcomed the passing of the bill.

He said: "The absence of maternity leave has long been identified as an obstacle to the participation of women in local government. In the twenty first century, I found this absence was unacceptable. This Bill rectifies that anomaly."

As part of the Bill, elected members availing of maternity leave may nominate a temporary substitute to undertake the role and duties of a Councillor for a maximum of 42 weeks, in line with the statutory leave afforded to employees. Minister Burke went on to say:

“The provision of a temporary substitute will allow for an elected member to undertake a ‘clean break’ from work. It ensures that councillors can take full maternity leave and are under no unnecessary pressure to return to work ahead of time or to be available for votes or meetings.

“The Bill will be supported by a robust set of Regulations which will provide, where an elected member is availing of maternity leave but wishes to continue in her role as a councillor, she can access an administrative support allowance to help her to maintain the running of her office.

A weekly vouched allowance of €234 will be made available for this purpose.

“I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the development of this Bill – councillors, political parties, women’s organisations and members of the Oireachtas. I am grateful for the cross-party support received by the legislation.

“We must redouble our efforts to make the role more accessible to all people and communities, regardless of gender. Through targeted measures like maternity leave, funding initiatives and improvements in pay, I am confident we will see progress at the next local elections so that our council chambers will be more reflective of the societies they serve.”