Nothing liberating about ripping away supports for struggling mums

As the Government austerity programme intensifies, its lens is focused on mothers, lone mothers, in particular.

That cohort of women who struggle daily to manage poverty are now being ‘activated’ when their youngest child turns seven, while stay at home and working mums are being targeted by further reductions and changes to Children’s Allowance.

Joan Burton and Frances Fitzgerald are two very powerful women who enjoy their positions, both as Tánaiste and Minister for Justice. Both of these women have turned their gaze on the struggling lone mother and the stay at home mum and the working mother.

Firstly, Joan is ripping away the financial support of Lone Parent Allowance for mothers who parent alone because of separation or divorce and whose youngest child has now reached the age of seven.

Frances Fitzgerald wants to dismantle Article 41 of our Constitution that financially supports mothers via the Children’s Allowance. Both of these powerful women have decided they know what’s best for struggling mothers - take away financial support for lone mothers of seven year olds and rip out our Constitutional right to state support and the Children’s Allowance to look after our family.

Joan, please explain how, at seven, children no longer need food or clothing or care?

Frances, please explain how removing Article 41.2:1 is liberating for stay at home mums or working mothers?

Do you really believe that financially hard pressed women need a stick to be beaten out to work in the first place?

Do you really believe that working mothers can afford to work and pay or even get after-school services for their children?

Do you both believe the work that women do in looking after their families is worthless or unworthy of state support?

Allow me to quote from our Constitution: “In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.” These are not pious words or faint platitudes from a Patriarchal state. They are a recognition of a woman’s care and love and labour for her children within the family home and its great value to our society.

Our children are the very future of our country. I, for one, will argue that we, as mothers, are, indeed, worthy of financial support from the state in recognition of the support we, in turn, give to the common good and are just as worthy as Joan and Francis!

Catherine Hannon Kennedy

Old Court Drive,

Bray, Co Wicklow