Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge all of the work the Minister has done to support families. He recently extended the period of parental leave to five weeks for both parents, which is really welcome and a great way of supporting modern families. As Deputy Carroll MacNeill has said, we now have an opportunity to further show our support for parents by introducing paid leave for early pregnancy loss. It is important to acknowledge, as the Minister has done, that while it is a woman's body that experiences the physical loss, the emotional loss is experienced by both parents. I strongly believe that the State needs to do more to support both parents through this. Paid miscarriage leave for the woman is a great place to start.

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