Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. Councillor Joanna Byrne of the Deputy's party was on the subgroup. We have established a committee to consider the non-pay aspects of the Moorhead report. In terms of paternity leave, section 18 is not invoked where one would have to take the extra six months or go past the six-month period. We want to put a policy framework around that. As I stated, the most urgent issue was that of maternity leave. My fear was that if I did not progress it, I could get delayed doing other items that we are trying to bring in. It is incremental change but in the course of the year I heard so many concerns from women in respect of this issue and it potentially being a barrier for women. It is a chief concern. It is about equality of treatment in politics. I believed it was a significant barrier to women going into politics. If a modern democracy is not facilitating women in the way that it ought to be, that makes a statement. That is why I wanted to change that framework first. We are, however, working apace on the other issues.