Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will also be pressing my amendment. As part of the Opposition we are very limited in the amendments we can propose. We cannot, for example, make suggestions that place a charge on the Exchequer. This amendment relates only to the monitoring and assessment of legislation and policies being implemented. I have developed policies for the Australian Government and I know it is really important when developing policies and legislation to have a feedback loop built in. We need to know what we do achieves the stated aims and that the process can be improved. We should be constantly looking to improve the measures being put in place.

All this amendment seeks is for the Minister to carry out a review that could have been quite simple and that would consider, assess and examine aspects of this process. I can understand the Minister worrying about limitations about transferability with respect to the EU directive, and this may affect the ability to deal with one-parent families. However, he should be examining ways in which paid parental leave can be extended to one-parent families. It should be high on his agenda. It is only one element and there are many other elements the Government should examine to support one-parent families. This is a key element, nonetheless, and the Minister should consider how to provide this leave to one-parent families.

The Minister should also be looking at how to increase rates of pay and encourage the take-up of schemes. What is contained in the amendment are actions the Minister should be taking as a standard. This is a no-brainer. I am thankful he said he would look at communicating better on the different types of leave available but he should be looking at how to streamline them. This Bill started out as a parental leave Bill but it is now a family leave Bill. There is confusion about what each of these elements mean.

I wondered if we should ask how much time was set aside for each of these types of leave and the conditions required for maternity, paternity or parental leave or parental benefit and if Members would get the answers right if they were asked in the Chamber today. We need to look at streamlining. I understand some of them are very targeted but there should be a simple system for families to follow.

The Minister indicated that the EU requires the Government to have the additional four-week period introduced by 2024. Therefore, the period will extend to seven weeks by June of next year and the EU has stated we must have everything in place under the directive by 2024. We are so far behind other EU countries in this regard and we must take a leadership role. We should not be doing the absolute minimum required of us by the EU. We should not say we will not bring in the remainder of this leave until 2024 because that is what the EU requires us to do. We should look at our families and children within our communities to see what supports they need. We know that is the right action to take, instead of following the EU instruction of having this in place by 2024.

I ask the Minister to take a more proactive approach. I am glad the EU has included a time limit as, unfortunately, we have seen over decades in the country that with our most progressive policies and legislation, the EU banging on our door makes us get it done. I ask the Minister to be more proactive and get to the nine-week period before 2024. He should give the families the support they need. This provision for an additional three weeks is positive and a significant move, but that is because our bar is so low and we have done so little for families in this country when it comes to parental leave. I ask the Minister to do more than what is expected.

This amendment is simple and it is something a Government or policymaker should be doing anyway. I will press the amendment because I would like to see its provisions included in the legislation.

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