Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We had a long discussion about this because I provided for this in legislation for the first time. We have gone through the legislative debate, including a Committee Stage debate on these matters. I accepted an amendment in terms of doing it by way of regulation in order that we would have a chance to lay it out in some terms. I think the amendment was from Deputy Fleming although it might have been from Deputy McDonald. One of the Deputies tabled it and both supported it, which I think that is the way to do it. That has delayed the implementation of the sick leave arrangement. I thought it was the right thing to do. It also allowed me to have further discussions. If the Deputy recalls, we were waiting for the final element of the Labour Court recommendation before Christmas.

It arrived in early December.

I will not have time in these two minutes to go through the sick leave matter in detail but I have a list of questions and answers and it might be useful were I to submit it to both Deputies opposite. Deputy Sean Fleming raised the question of illness related to pregnancy. There will be critical illness issues, which are well covered and well negotiated. We have binding recommendations from the Labour Court, which have been incorporated in the new scheme. I can go through the details, but it would probably be of greater benefit were I to supply the list of questions and answers covering how the new scheme works, how it operates in respect of critical illnesses, etc. We can then revert to the matter.

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