Seanad debates

Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

I have great difficulty with the lack of obligation on employers to provide facilities for mothers and their babies. When will this issue be addressed? The Bill is too light on employers. If more women are to be encouraged into the workplace, this issue must be addressed. Family friendly policies must be adopted. There is no serious intent in the legislation to make it mandatory on employers to provide breastfeeding facilities in the workplace. The reduction in working hours is not defined and, therefore, it is virtually meaningless. How much time should be provided for mothers to breastfeed? How many times a day can they breastfeed? If they are to take shorter working hours because there is no facility for the baby in the building or its vicinity, what is the extent of the shorter working hours the Minister is suggesting? What constitutes a reduction in working hours? If this is not included in the Bill, employers will decide for themselves what they should provide for mothers.

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