Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:"(b) in subsection (2)(a) by substituting "attains the age of 12 years” for “attains the age of 8 years",

(c) in subsection (2)(b)(ii) by substituting "attained the age of 10 years but not 12 years" for "attained the age of 6 years but not 8 years",".

The purpose of this amendment is to reflect recent developments at EU level since we published the Bill. I refer to the directive to which the Minister of State has already referred. One of the key recommendations in the directive on work-life balance is to raise the qualifying age from eight years to 12 years. It is sensible that this Bill should reflect current thinking at EU level. I propose, therefore, that we change the age from eight years to 12 years and make a corresponding change in cases of adoption, where the age would go from ten years to 12 years also.