RTE broadcaster explains how negative equity impacted on her maternity leave

This RTE broadcaster and proud mum-of-two has opened up about maternity leave and explained the factors which led her to make a swift return to work.

Having given birth to baby Patrick in 2013 and his younger sister Jane in 2014, Claire Byrne took a fortnight off work before each birth and returned to the RTE studios ten weeks after welcoming each of the new arrivals.

Chatting about the circumstances that led her to return to work, the busy mum told the Irish Daily Mail: "I am one of those people who suffers with a negative equity mortgage and that is one of the reasons why I came back to work."

Claire, who is engaged to long-term partner Gerry Scollan, admits that financial struggles played a role in her return to the television studios, admitting: "I can't afford to be off for a long period of time."

Yet despite her relatively short time at home with her little ones, Claire feels she is a better mum when she can balance both home and work responsibilities, saying: "They need to know that I am someone who works but who is also a mammy when I am there."

Claire credits her husband Gerry for keeping her feet on the ground during her two whirlwind pregnancies.