Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

We have probably had this discussion three times on this legislation. I do not understand the Minister of State wedding himself to the maternity leave legislation. My understanding of that legislation is that it is single gender legislation. In an age when men, quite rightly, insist on having greater involvement with their children while they are young, I am surprised that the Minister of State refers to a restrictive item of legislation when dealing with a progressive measure such as parental leave or leave for people who are having a child by adoption. He should be proud to introduce such a measure but to do so on the basis of restrictive legislation that everybody knows will have to be revisited because of the equality demands placed on it is incomprehensible.

The number of politicians who are remembered for doing something in the common good can be counted on one hand and I do not understand why a Minister would not take the opportunity when it presents itself. I ask the Minister of State why he weds himself to legislation that he will be obliged to revisit?

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