'I'm beyond ecstatic' - Cancer survivor reacts to passing of landmark legislation

Two years on from the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s #LeaveourLeave campaign, the charity is celebrating legislation passed today that allows women to defer maternity leave in cases of serious illness.  

#LeaveourLeave was spearheaded by three women: Erica Tierney, Mary Canavan and Emma McGuinness, who all underwent cancer treatment whilst on maternity leave. 

The Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provision Bill will ensure that women undergoing treatment for cancer, or other serious illnesses, can pause their maternity leave for up to fifty two weeks. This will enable them to take their maternity leave when they are better, rather than being forced to take it when they are too sick to spend crucial time with their babies.  

Around sixty women each year in Ireland go through cancer treatment during pregnancy or postpartum. The two-year campaign highlighted the deep injustice these women endured by missing out on precious bonding time with their babies, and the discriminatory fact that men had the right to defer paternity leave if unwell.

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The legislation will also benefit many other women who fall seriously ill during, or just after pregnancy.

Speaking today, Erica Tierney, cancer survivor and #LeaveourLeave campaigner said:

“It’s almost impossible to articulate the meaning of this change to families going through pregnancy and serious illness at the same time. When I was so sick and juggling chemo with being a new mam, discovering I couldn’t keep my maternity leave for when I felt better literally felt like another huge blow, in a time when what I needed was extra support.

"I’m beyond ecstatic that this change is now a reality and no one going through cancer and pregnancy will also have to endure the loss of their maternity leave. They can bank on having that time back with their baby when the gruelling treatment is done."

Erica said she was proud of the work she had done alongside Mary and Emma to make this change and was "extremely" thankful to the Irish Cancer Society for their "solemn commitment, guidance and hard work on this important issue. We just made life better for hundreds of families every year.” 

Thanking those who trailblazed this change in legislation, Irish Cancer Society CEO, Averil Power said: 

“At the Irish Cancer Society, we are determined to stop cancer devastating people’s lives and robbing them of precious time with their loved ones. We are delighted that our #LeaveourLeave campaign has brought about such a monumental change, not only for cancer patients but for any woman with a serious illness postpartum.

"We cannot thank Erica Tierney, Mary Canavan and Emma McGuinness enough- these three incredible women spearheaded the campaign and have worked tirelessly to change this cruel anomaly in Irish law, to ensure other women with cancer do not miss out on important bonding time with their babies." 

She acknowledged that cancer had "robbed Erica, Mary, Emma and countless others of special moments every new mother looks forward to. And Irish law robbed them of their maternity leave."

She welcomed the legislation and said: "Now, new mothers will be spared that heartbreak. Instead of spending their maternity leave receiving life-saving cancer treatment, they’ll be making precious memories with their babies.” 

She concluded: “We would like to thank Minister Roderic O'Gorman for listening to the women affected, engaging with us and acting on our request for legislative change, the Oireachtas Cross Party Group on cancer, and every politician that championed this change.

"We would also like to thank all our incredible donors and supporters, for making our advocacy possible. Together, we are saving lives and improving the lives of people affected by cancer.”