Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish everyone a happy May Day. I also wish Deputy McDonald a happy birthday today. May Day is a day when we mark progress made on workers' rights and note how much still remains to be done.

I raise with the Taoiseach workers' rights legislation that we in Labour brought forward in January. We used our Private Members' time to debate our Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021, which, if passed, would offer paid leave of up to 20 days for women who experience early pregnancy loss and up to ten days for employees accessing reproductive healthcare treatments, such as IVF. In short, we would provide for leave when it matters most for compassionate workplaces. We were disappointed that the Government put a stay of 12 months on progressing that Bill further through Second Stage. More than three months have passed since then. Therefore, on May Day, could the Taoiseach update us on whether he proposes to do anything to make further progress on our important proposal, which would contribute greatly to making workplaces more compassionate and provide for workers' rights?

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