Well,

I mean, certainly in the Scandinavian countries, which are often quoted, we all know that their taxation regimes are higher and they pay high social insurance contributions into the state. Now they supply child care facilities, they charge longer maternity leave, so they have very good social policies in place. And, but I mean, it's, at the moment, I mean, at

the moment, for example, you know, you there, John. No, don't seem to know what happened there. We'll try and get John Barry back there. John Barry is the HR expert with ISME. Some of the other techs coming into us here in 53106, this listener says, I'm a woman and I'm the higher earner in the household. We'd to save up to afford for my two maternity leaves. With the cost of childcare, we were unable to save money and for any more maternity leave. So there's going to be no more children for us as this textor. Another listener as well has gotten contact to say, like, listening to your interview with Camilla, should she not be going to her employer and asking for maternity benefits and not the state? Again, that view is shared by other listeners. There's another text here who has gotten contact with 53106 to make the point that, you know, if you can't afford to have children, there are luxuries, says this text. If you can't afford them and don't research what the maternity benefit will be, then I've no sympathy for your caller, says this listener. John is back with us. Like John, is the onus then to go back to the employer rather than the state?

Well, no, it's not. It's the social payment and employers are already paying 11% as fed in social insurance to pay for these facilities for people. So I don't think it's fair that employers should be obliged to pay in addition to that. Now some employers can pay it and do pay it as a benefit to their employees. But again, you're looking at the difference between larger organizations and smaller businesses. Because in the small business, if you have to replace that person, then you're covering that cost certainly for the six months, if you're paying them. And if you're going to be that person is paid for even the 26 weeks, if the employer is going to pay for the extra 16 weeks as well. So the employer is carrying two salaries, and in a small business, often you do have to replace someone. And, you know, the margins aren't necessarily there to cover those costs. Those are difficult to do. And employers are getting very annoyed at the fact that costs are being transferred to them. We now see the new sick pay coming in. The state never pays for the first three days of sickness. All of a sudden employers are going to pay for the first three days of sickness. So employers are getting concerned about all these costs coming onto them. Just

some of the other messages on this. This tax says if you can't afford to have children, don't have them. Stop expecting the taxpayer to cough up just because you want to have a child. There's plenty of supports out there. Stop asking for more. The taxpayer can't afford it. That comes in in capital letters from one listener. Why is the Carers' Allowance Means Tested asks this tax store if the payments for having children based on your means? Why are those of us who provide care day in day out penalized? My partner is living with me and I am their carer. Another textor as well has got in touch to say we also have the same problem. My husband's disability It's been cut and I'm on maternity. I had to go through the benefits payments and trying to go through my employer Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to survive and again another texter has got in touch and to say look It's just absolutely ridiculous given the cast the rising cost of living in Ireland that there's been no increase for years to the state Maternity benefits keep the text coming into us 5 through 106 is the number John. Thanks a million John Barry there HR expert with is me for joining us in the program and to To Camilla who got in touch and kicked off the conversation. We are going to be talking about trying to get a taxi and what has happened to the trains. Tea trolley. What's next? Lunchtime Live with Andrea Gilligan brought to you by Avant Money. Weekdays at

midday on News Talk.