DELEGATES at the Mandate conference in Waterford have passed an emergency motion calling on the German government "to remove all obstacles to Ms Roisin McAliskey's bail application, so as to protect the health of both the mother and child". They also condemned "the present unacceptable policy of the British government, that allows for the imprisonment of unconvicted pregnant women whilst they are on remand, as highlighted by the case of Ms McAliskey".
At the final session delegates also called for polling in general elections and referendums to take place on Sundays. National officer Mr Maurice Sheehan said that some Mandate members often had to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, when polling normally takes place. As a result they were not able to vote.
He said staffing of polling booths should be optional for the local government officials involved and they should be paid premium overtime rates for the work.
Earlier, Mandate members called on the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, to change the social welfare regulations in order to provide support for workers forced to take temporary leave to care for the elderly. A Galway delegate, Ms Mary Conneally, said she had taken a career break to look after a terminally ill relative. Although she had been working for 17 years, Ms Conneally said she found she was not entitled even to a carer's allowance.
When she returned to her job Ms Conneally said she had to work 12 months to regain eligibility for entitlements such as maternity benefit, disability and unemployment benefit.