Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I do not believe anyone in this House claims, and I know I certainly do not, complete ownership of compassion. I completely recognise the issues as well as the need for those raised by the Deputies to be addressed. The Deputies have said that this issue is provided for by the vast majority of employers. However, their concern, which is a legitimate one, is to ensure this is not something that is offered, but is something that is there as a right. I fully understand the Deputies' desire to legislate in that way.

Previously, and it was in response to Opposition Private Members' legislation dealing with the issue of miscarriage leave, we, as a Government, brought forward the proposal to undertake research. I take the point made about other situations where timed amendments have been put in place and nothing has happened. I do not believe that criticism can be levied here because research is being undertaken at the moment which is looking at how we can support parents who have suffered a particular bereavement in the context of miscarriage leave.

I also believe that where we are dealing with issues of a similar and interlinked nature, we should try to address them in the same legislation. That is why in the context of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, I worked not only to implement the issues in the work-life balance directive, but I also introduced a number of key innovations in respect of extending breastfeeding breaks and, in particular, paid domestic violence leave. Bringing things together into a substantial piece of legislation ensures that legislation gets through. The weight of the various issues behind it gives it a prioritisation which, I fear, it would not have if there was just one issue being dealt with. That is why I brought in domestic violence leave into that legislation because I was worried that on its own, it might not get the necessary prioritisation. The issues the Deputies have brought forward today and the issues my Department is looking at are similar and could be brought together effectively in the combined legislation.

In 12 months' time, when the research that our Department has commissioned on the potential for miscarriage leave and other supports has been undertaken, we will have an opportunity on Committee Stage to look to see if there is a possibility of integrating the two issues. That would result in legislation being brought forward that would have a meaningful impact for many parents, both those who have suffered bereavement due to the loss of a child, in addition to the much greater number of parents who have suffered a miscarriage in the course of their relationship. That is my view on the best way to proceed. I recognise Deputies do not agree with me but that is the position of the Government and the position we will work from.

See this speech in context