Seanad debates

Tuesday, 2 December 2003

Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

2:30 pm

Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

Perhaps the Minister might use the same approach as previously, whereby a right is only as good as the use people make of it. I suggest that, in a situation where a baby is in hospital, it does not make sense that one cannot postpone one's maternity leave if one has not taken the 14 weeks. That would be ridiculous. I appreciate the Minister of State's sympathetic approach in the matter and I hope some progress may be made on the basis of further legal advice.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Government amendment No. 18:

In page 6, to delete lines 25 to 30.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment No. 19 not moved.

Government amendment No. 20:

In page 6, lines 32 and 33, to delete "may, at the discretion of the employer, agree" and substitute "may agree".

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment No. 21 not moved.

Government amendment No. 22:

In page 7, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:

"(6) 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.

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