Derek McDowell (Labour)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 5, to delete lines 20 to 26 and substitute "period of 8 weeks.".

I apologise for the absence of my colleague, Senator Tuffy. She is unwell but I hope she will be here later.

The amendment seeks to amend the provision covering cases where the mother dies during the course of the leave. As I understand the existing provision, the adoptive father simply takes over the remainder of the leave that would have been available to the mother. I am not sure whether that makes a great deal of sense in the circumstances. We are looking to facilitate the father in doing the bonding that the mother was not able to do, to use the Minister's words. It appears reasonable in the circumstances that, irrespective of when during the course of the leave the mother dies, the father would be entitled, at a minimum, to the full eight week period as opposed to just filling in the remaining period that would have been available to the deceased mother.