I am asking the parents of OLV to sign this petition to save Dereks job, he has been amazing over the last few years since he started and it will be a huge loss to see him go.

This petition speaks to a critical gap in Ireland’s maternity and childcare systems—one that affects thousands of women and families every year. Right now, working mothers are being punished for contributing to society: • The state provides no financial support during the final 16 weeks of maternity leave—leaving mothers without income, even when no childcare is available for infants under 12 months. • Maternity benefit is flat-rate, unrelated to income or tax paid, creating financial hardship. • Childcare waiting lists are 12–18 months long, yet women are expected to return to work after 6 months. • Women face lost pension contributions and healthcare costs while on leave—deepening the gender gap. First letter sent to the Government of Ireland on 20th May 2025 (full letter link  https://docs.google.com/file/d/1KGTvpZDcaKTbiOquWvgjv0YIWljZeKwX/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword) To: The Government of Ireland — especially the women who lead our country Subject: A Plea for Real Change in Maternity Support, Childcare, and Equity for Working Mothers in Ireland Dear Ministers, TDs, and all with power to make real change, I write this letter with a full heart, a weary mind, and deep concern for the state of maternity and childcare support in Ireland. I speak as a woman who believes in hard work, resilience, and contribution. And yet, I now ask: How has Ireland let its working women down so deeply and for so long? My Journey: Hard Work Without a Safety Net I’ve been working since I was 15. Now 36, I’ve built a career in Human Resources. I supported myself through college—working 20 hours a week, every summer, without any grants, as my father’s hard-earned income excluded me from supports. I’ve never expected handouts. I’ve worked hard and built a life brick by brick. I purchased a home in County Dublin—a three-bedroom semi-detached property—for over €525,000. As a second-time buyer with a self-employed husband, we were excluded from any government schemes. Still, we managed our mortgage and rising costs through sheer determination and work ethic. A Time of Joy… Shadowed by Fear In January 2025, we received the news: we were expecting our first child. Excited and nervous, we began to plan. I’ve remained in work despite difficult pregnancy symptoms, with the support of my employer. But as I sat to plan maternity leave, reality hit hard. I contacted over 20 childcare providers within a 20km radius. None would accept a child under 12 months. Most told me to get on a waiting list after the baby was born, with average wait times of 12–18 months. My plan to return to work after 26 weeks suddenly seemed impossible. Maternity Benefit: Inadequate, Unfair, and Disconnected from Reality I’m grateful my employer offers maternity top-up for the first 26 weeks. Without it, we couldn’t afford to start a family. But the lack of any state support during the final 16 weeks—despite national recommendations for parental care during a child’s first year—is unacceptable. Our monthly expenses exceed €4,000: mortgage, insurance, utilities, car, groceries. I approached my bank to explore options like a mortgage moratorium or interest-only payments, but was told I’d need to be in arrears first. In other words—I must fail before I qualify for help. This is not just my issue. Many women I know are quietly facing the same situation: unable to return to work, unable to stay at home without falling into debt, unsupported by the state despite decades of contributions. A System That Punishes Contribution How is it possible that if I had never worked, I might now be better off? Let’s break it down: • Maternity Benefit: A flat rate that doesn’t reflect my earnings or tax history. • Extended Leave: 16 weeks of unpaid leave—no state support. • Parents Benefit: Too low to keep a roof over our heads. • Healthcare: Employer-paid health insurance may be lost or owed back after unpaid leave. This is a system that punishes responsibility. It penalises work, discourages independence, and widens the gender gap by undermining the financial stability of mothers. It’s out of touch with today’s reality. The Emotional Toll I should be enjoying this time, preparing for my daughter’s arrival in October. Instead, I’m battling stress, sleepless nights, and financial uncertainty. Will I fall into debt? Will I return to work earlier than planned? Will I owe money to my employer for continuing healthcare? These are not thoughts a pregnant woman should have. We are told to plan our families, support the economy, and bridge the gender gap. Yet we’re left without the tools to do it. How can we be asked to raise the next generation while being economically abandoned? A Call for Real, Urgent Reform To the Ministers and leaders of this country—especially the women: how can you let this continue? How can Ireland claim to be progressive while mothers are pushed to the brink just for having children? We need you to act. Not in a year. Not after “review.” Now. We call on you to: 1. Review the maternity benefit system – Introduce a tiered model tied to income and contributions. 2. Fund extended maternity leave – Support families during the 16 weeks of unpaid leave. 3. Solve the childcare crisis – Increase capacity, affordability, and access for children under 12 months. 4. Protect financial stability for women – Ensure pensions, healthcare, and job protections during leave. 5. Implement equitable policies – Recognise that a flat-rate system penalises contributors and working-class families. In Closing I am writing this letter because I believe in Ireland and its people. But I do not believe in a system that abandons women during one of the most vulnerable and meaningful times of their lives. We need real reform. And we need it now. I speak on behalf of every mother who returned to work too soon, every woman who delayed starting a family due to fear, and every child who lost valuable time with a parent because the system made no space for them. Please—do better. We are not asking for more than we deserve. We are asking for fairness, dignity, and the right to raise our children without being penalised. I have started a public petition to amplify this call. The support behind it is growing. I hope those in power will not only hear us—but finally act. Sincerely,  A hard-working woman  A mother-to-be  A voice among many

Because people deserve to be paid for the work they do.

Our lack of proper terms and conditions means: uncertainty about our hours & our annual income; getting laid off during the holidays so having to sign on for social welfare payments; inconsistency in rates of pay from ETB to ETB; lower pay for post-2011 entrants; no opportunity for progression; no raise in pay after years of service and improved qualifications

Aramark is an American based corporation that operates Direct Provision centres for the State in Cork, Clare and Westmeath, and are also commercially involved in the prison system in the United States. Aramark currently runs a large number of food outlets on the campus such as: Cafe Allegro – University Concert Hall Eden Restaurant – Main Building Cafe Cube – Kemmy River Cafe – Engineering Building Cafe Verde – Health Science Red Raisins* – Main Building *(Chopped, Mexico Kitchen, Subway, Starbucks) UL awarded their catering contract to a corporation that is frequently criticised for its treatment of those in the asylum system and its profiteering off the misery of refugees and those incarcerated in the United States. This contract goes against the community spirit of UL, and the inclusive campus we all love. The University of Limerick is considered a University of Sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees, offering 15 scholarships each year to residents living in direct provision.

They work

It constitutes legal age discrimination and is contrary to the concept of equal pay for equal work.

This affects every single person in this country from the cradle to the grave as a matter of urgency.

Construction sector is in decline. New entrants don't find the construction attractive as a career option. This decline will impact on productivity and impact negatively on the housing crisis. Improvement in pension conditions is important to reverse this sectors decline.

In order to retain skills and attract new entrants to the construction sector and avoid labour shortage caused by physical nature off construction work, a reduced pension time is needed as a basic benefit, otherwise it will impact on productivity, send the sector into decline and impact further on the housing crisis. Most construction workers start work as teenagers 10 years ahead of most sectors but, but only 1 in 5 make it to 65.

This is an opportunity to acknowledge the wrongs perpuated by our State and those to whom it sub-contracted its responsibilities.

Celebrate our female saint with a day off for all the amazing health workers and the rest of us!