Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is our intention to do the right thing but to do it in a considered way. It is not as simple as the Deputy has outlined and there are both legal and policy complexities with it. The estimated cost is €78 million and it would affect about 24,500 women. That is being considered by the relevant Departments. I do not intend to come in here and say what might be popular or just give a simple affirmative response. I want to see a considered response from the Departments concerned. It will come to Government and obviously we will influence that. The Government will make a decision on it bearing in mind all the wider issues the Deputy also alluded to. The programme for Government gives very clear commitments to improving maternity leave, paternity leave as well as the wider strategy designed to improve the quality of life of mothers, particularly after their babies are born.

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