Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I thank Deputy Cronin for proposing this amendment Bill, which is absolutely essential.

I had the experience of losing a daughter back in 2003. She went full term, but there was a cord accident at birth. It is very unusual but it does happen. She would have been 21 this year. Her mother and I were both working parents, which, as a result of economic necessity, is the case for everybody in the Republic. I thank the Deputy. I hope that the Government will support the Bill and that we can get it over the line within the lifetime of this Government.

I have a question about the 24-week cut-off point, for want of a better expression, for a pregnancy. Is that based on international practice? One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage or stillbirth of one kind or another. Would it be impractical to figure in miscarriage? Even if we do not offer ten days of bereavement leave, we could include some recognition for a worker who is having to come to terms with a loss at some time in the pregnancy. Does that exist elsewhere in our legislation?