Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It absolutely would. I thank the Tánaiste for his remarks in that regard. My legislation provides for a penalty for anyone who abuses it. I cannot see how someone would abuse leave of that nature. I cannot conceive of people who would walk into an employer and claim that to get time off. There are other ways to get time off work. I welcome the Tánaiste's comments in that regard. My legislation will be discussed in a committee on 18 October. I hope it will progress. I wish the Government would clear up the messages. On one hand, a Minister has referred to ten days and no requirement for proof in the university sector, while on the other hand, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, published legislation that provides for five days and possibly requires proof. We want to do right by victims. The best thing to do is to speak to them with one voice. I understand it was not in the Tánaiste's submission but it came up this morning and it exercises me.

I have a question about the delay in the introduction of statutory sick pay. It was due in the fourth quarter of this year and it has been put off to January. It has been described by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions as a hammer blow to workers. Many of those workers will receive what ICTU has described as an inadequate rise in their minimum wage. When will the regulation orders for the statutory sick leave scheme be ready? I know the Tánaiste has not done this yet, but will he start an awareness campaign in the run-up to the scheme being introduced? There is little time left between now and January for the roll-out of a campaign that will be seen by workers and employers, in their workplaces rather than just at a high level, so that they understand what will happen in January.