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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 114 together.

There have been significant developments in the entitlements to different forms of family leave for working families in recent years. The Government committed in the programme for Government 2020 to supporting parents, including by extending paid leave to allow them to spend more time with their children during their earliest years. Parents' leave and benefit have been extended significantly by this Government. It currently provides seven weeks' paid leave for each parent, to be taken within a child's first two years. This entitlement will be extended to nine weeks later in the summer. Whereas it might have been two weeks for the Deputy in terms of parental leave, there is now that two weeks plus the nine weeks of parents' leave. There has been a dramatic expansion during the lifetime of this Government.

This Government is committed to supporting working parents, in particular those who are breastfeeding. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, enacted on 4 April 2023, includes amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts to provide for the extension of breastfeeding breaks for employees to two years after the birth of the child. An order amending regulations relating to breastfeeding breaks made under the Maternity Protection Acts was also made on that date. These regulations are to support those new mothers who are returning to work, knowing they continue to be supported to keep breastfeeding their child. The extension of this entitlement to employees who give birth within the previous two years is in line with commitments in First 5.

The Act also introduces five days' leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12 and for carers. It also provides for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers. Such flexible working arrangements will allow parents and carers to alter their working day or patterns to care for children or others they have caring responsibilities for. The right to request flexible working for parents and carers and remote working for all employees was commenced on 6 March 2024 following the preparation of a code of practice by the Workplace Relations Commission. The Government has committed to reviewing these provisions after two years to consider extending the right to request flexible working to all employees.

Statutory domestic violence leave was also introduced under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, making Ireland one of the first countries in the EU to introduce such leave. Victims of domestic violence are entitled to five days' leave over a period of 12 months to be paid at 100% of the employee’s normal rate to ensure the employee’s economic situation will not be altered. My Department also commissioned Women’s Aid to develop supports for employers to develop their own domestic violence workplace policies.

I will also bring forward shortly legislative proposals to provide for a deferral of maternity leave where a mother falls ill while pregnant or during maternity leave. It is essential we support mothers during such a vulnerable time in their lives. I will also be taking this opportunity to legislate for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas.

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