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

The amendments in this group are largely technical in nature. Amendments No. 1 and 15 propose a change to the Short and Long Titles of the Act, respectively, to reflect the proposed addition of sections related to non-disclosure agreements and preservation of records, which were not part of the published Bill. Amendment No. 1 further provides for the commencement of different sections of the Act. Amendment No. 2 is a standard provision related to expenses incurred in the administration of this Act. Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are of a technical nature, changing wording slightly and correcting a cross-reference but with no change to the intended purpose of the amended sections. Amendment No. 8 provides for the Minister for Social Protection to make regulations to allow for maternity benefit to also be postponed in line with the provisions to postpone maternity leave. This is necessary to ensure that when a person who is eligible for maternity leave and benefit avails of their option to postpone that maternity leave, that maternity benefit can also be postponed as well.

I will speak briefly to Deputy Sherlock's amendment as I am not sure if I will get a chance to come back in.

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