Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Section 7 provides a new entitlement to time off from work to attend antenatal classes. It is necessary to amend this section by the insertion of a new subsection (3) to provide for exclusions for members of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána serving overseas or in other exceptional circumstances. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was contacted by the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána stating that, in certain exceptional circumstances, it might not be possible to allow female members engaged in emergency operational and other duties to avail of these rights.

I am advised that this amendment will not result in women members of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána being prevented from attending antenatal classes as, in most cases, a pregnant member of these forces who has notified her employers of her condition, is unlikely to be on active service of the nature outlined. However, the exclusions are necessary to ensure that the operations of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána are not compromised in any way.