Special Report: Maternity leave does not reflect the new norms of work and family life

Elaine Loughlin and her husband Derek Fortune with their son Micheál, 11 months. Picture: Moya Nolan

The supports to which new mothers - and fathers - are entitled lag far behind the realities of life in 21st century Ireland, writes Elaine Loughlin.

WORK practices and family life have changed drastically in recent years but maternity leave has lagged behind and remains a crude instrument that does not always take current situations into account.