Irish people should not be complicit in genocide and war crimes.  We can no longer stand by and allow this to happen.  It is not enough to talk - it is time for action. 

Make my village safer – install bollards in Ballina, Co Tipperary.

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

To encourage creativity in all fields in Ireland especially with the so popular. 

Enough is enough. Sign this petition because the government is not treating the housing crisis as an emergency. People are not just statistics, and emergency accommodation should not be the new normal. More than 15,000 people remain homeless, and thousands more face sky-high rents and insecure tenancies. Meanwhile, corporate landlords continue to profit and exacerbate this housing crisis. The only solution now is for tenants and communities to take direct action. Stand in solidarity, sign the petition, show up, and take a stand.

For the wellbeing of 6th years in st.aidans

Please sign this petition so that we can get the message across to the council that we miss Gwen, we miss our chats, we miss our coffee, and our dogs miss their treats! The more people who sign, the more likely it is that the council will take notice.  We are just at the start of the summer, it will be months before the tea rooms are ready to open. It seems so wrong to go a whole summer with no food and drink option in Blackrock Park. Gwen has built such a lovely community around the bandstand, we all chat while waiting to get our coffees, our dogs sit and wait patiently for their treats while we chat. That sense of community is slowly disappearing now Gwen has gone, we need it back. Please sign - thank you!

Action must be taken before this road claims a life

Facilitate right of passage to our beautiful natural amenity, beaches in arklow wicklow wexford etc are free to use

  Every year, thousands of people in Ireland are diagnosed with skin cancer — the most common and one of the most preventable cancers in the country. And yet, the one product proven to reduce that risk — sunscreen — is still taxed as if it's a luxury.  But SPF is not a luxury. It’s a lifesaving essential product.  Why should families, outdoor workers, and children pay extra to protect themselves from cancer?  Right now, sunscreen is subject to VAT in Ireland, making it harder for many to afford. This especially affects people with fair or sensitive skin, low-income families, and those who work outdoors.   It sends the wrong message: that sun safety is optional. It’s not.   If Ireland is serious about cancer prevention, it’s time to act. Making SPF VAT-free would be a simple, powerful change — one that could save lives.   We’re calling on the Irish government to treat sunscreen like the essential health product it is.  Join us in demanding that SPF be made an essential product and  VAT-free.   Because skin cancer is preventable and SPF is essential.  Because no one should be priced out of protecting their skin. Because we can make change together.   Please sign and share. Let’s protect more people, raise awareness, and show our government that this matters.  

Increased bus services means Increased independence, especially for young people, older people and those who don’t use a car https://www.uplift.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg

Please sign this petition so our children with Autim/ Autistic Children can continue to enjoy these classes.