Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I cannot accept theses amendments, which rely for validity on earlier amendments that were ruled out of order. Deputy English's amendments are consequent on amendment No. 1, which has been ruled out of order. Section 6 of the Bill amends section 10 of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995, which makes provision for additional unpaid adoptive leave for bereaved fathers in certain circumstances following the death of the adoptive mother. In the event that both the mother and father were entitled to leave in their own right — which they are not — then Deputy English's amendments would have merit. However, the principal Act and this Bill confine adoptive leave to adopting mothers and in this scenario, when the mother dies, the leave can only be available to the surviving parent, namely, the father.

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