Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 4 May 2022
Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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The Law Library, when it was reviewing the Bill, offered a view on the Bill itself. One of the points it raised was the absence of a definition of "illness or injury". Having gone through it - I will not use the word "reform" because it was really a slashing of the public service sick pay and sick leave scheme - I am aware it is really tough to define that, notwithstanding that it referenced the fact and raised a concern that there is not an existing definition. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would investigate it further or if he was in a position to confirm that the Department does not have any issue with it.
I am raising it because it was raised by legal experts. There is a difficulty. As we found out, one cannot draw up a list. Is the Minister of State concerned or is he happy that, without the definition, it is okay?