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

I note what the members are saying and what the Minister of State has said, but this will not come in overnight. There will be a few weeks at least of a delay by the time it gets back into the Dáil and goes to the Seanad. We are also talking about an extension of eight weeks which can be taken over a 12-year period. I do not think this is unreasonable. We have to take a positive view of this also.

Obviously it is very popular with parents, but it is also very helpful to employers because it helps with the retention of staff. It helps to retain long-term, highly-experienced staff if the employer displays a flexible approach and facilitates the demands that exist with regard to childcare in particular, but also other family and caring responsibilities. This has not come out of the blue. The Bill has been published for some time. People have had an opportunity to adjust their thinking to it and a three-month period is reasonable in this regard because, in effect, it will be four or five months.