Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for acknowledging that the increase to 26 weeks in paid maternity leave was a very positive move. We can be proud that this is one of the countries leading the way on the issue of treating women well when they are pregnant and giving birth. The Minister has stated this change will yield €40 million in a full year. Is there any estimate of how much would be saved if, what the Minister terms, the loophole was closed to ensure that, as he spelled out in his reply to Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly's amendment, women would be no better off as a result of receiving maternity benefit for six months? Are figures available for the numbers of women who are paid in full by their employers while on maternity leave as against those who are not? The public sector scheme is a generous one and women continue to be paid, by and large. However, in the private sector the position varies significantly. The vast majority of small and medium enterprises, for example, cannot afford to continue to pay women their salaries while on maternity leave. Is there any estimate of how much of the €40 million would be saved if the change was restricted to ensuring women who are paid their salaries while on maternity leave would not benefit from this bonus, or this anomaly, as the Minister terms it?

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