The Sinn Féin leader has said plans to extend parental leave by three weeks is “not enough” for those who had children during lockdown.

The Government is to examine extending parental leave from two to five weeks from next year according to the Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

That extension will also apply to anyone who had had a child at any time from November 2019 onwards; however, it will not be available for at least another three months.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mary Lou McDonald said the government has put forward the plan “as an alternative to doing the right things” for people who became parents during lockdown.

“I think simply extending parental leave is not enough,” she said. “You will know that there has been a very energetic campaign in respect of the extension of the maternity leave and the maternity benefit for 12 weeks.

“I am disappointed that the government seems to have reached for parental leave as an alternative to doing the right things for mothers in particular but for parents who have new-borns and have had incredible complications and pressures in these times.

“They have been left without all of the normal supports that I know I relied on when I was a new parent – extended family, on your mother in particular and grandparents – all of that has been totally set adrift.”

Mothers (from left) Andrea Simic, with her son Nika, Tara MacDarby, with her son Calum, Paula Solan, with her son Quinn Leonard and Amy McGivney with her son Ki, at Leinster House in Dublin where they presented a petition calling for an extension of maternity leave, 11-06-2020. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images

Nearly 30,000 people have now signed the Extend Maternity petition, which warns that new parents have begun life with their children without any of the supports that are normally available.

Calling for an immediate 12-week extension, the petition also notes that the challenges facing the country’s childcare system could leave many new parents unable to return to work.

Earlier on the show, the director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Orla O’Connor said the Government was simply repeating something it had already promised.

She said it falls “far short” of what new mothers need and is “utterly separate” to what they have been calling for.

Holding A Baby's Hand, 08-11-2005. Image: Don Hammond/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire

Deputy McDonald said Sinn Féin will bring legislation calling for an emergency 12-week extension this evening.

“I think it is the sensible thing to do,” she said. “I think it is the fair thing to do.

“It takes account of parent’s nervousness with very young babies and whether or not they are going to be able to get childcare; whether or not they will feel confident themselves in this period bringing their very young babies to childcare – so it makes sense.”

She said the €78m the plan would cost the Exchequer would be money “very well spent.”

Deputy McDonald also said she would be in favour of extending standard parental leave further with a more flexible system that would allow parents to use it until their child was 12-years-old.

You can listen back to her appearance on Newstalk Breakfast’s ‘Your Call’ segment here: