Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

That is all right. I wanted to make sure of the arrangements. I support amendment No. 10, in the name of Deputy English. I know several instances where both partners work for the same company and there can be a lack of flexibility in the arrangements that such people can make. I accept that the Minister of State is very much constrained by the negotiations that took place four years ago. I do not believe he should be, by the way, but I accept that he is. I am not convinced that the people who negotiated this package looked at this in any detail. I may be doing them an injustice, however. If they did, perhaps they could not negotiate certain areas of it. If I am doing them an injustice, it is not intentional.

There are examples where couples work at the same employment and where both individuals would like to take time off to care for or just simply be with their children on particular occasions. I do not understand why this was not envisaged in this legislation. I believe I know who represented this area in those negotiations and it strikes me that they are capable and competent people and that they are well versed in this area. It amazes me that this issue was left out, as were others. As Deputy English said, in a previous contribution, life has moved on dramatically in Ireland since that time. It has moved on more dramatically for families and women than for any other group in society. I hope that the people who are now in negotiations on this particular issue are listening to this debate, that they are open to the type of representations in respect of it made to us, as politicians, and that these issues will be clarified sooner rather than later.

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