Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The reasoning behind this amendment is the same as I outlined on a previous amendment, namely, to reflect more closely the intention of the maternity working group and to ensure consistency with the Parental Leave Act 1998. Here again, the intention is that the employee and employer should agree the date on which leave is terminated, rather than giving the employer the sole discretion to decide the date.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment No. 13 not moved.

Government amendment No. 14:

In page 5, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:

"(4) An employer who receives a request under subsection (1) shall notify the employee concerned in writing of the employer's decision in relation to the request as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of it.".

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments Nos. 15 and 16 not moved.

Section 5, as amended, agreed to.

SECTION 6.