Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome what is a good Bill but one which needs to be significantly improved on Committee Stage. The greatest barrier faced by employees who want to take parental leave is the simple fact that they cannot afford to do so, which is a telling point. Parental leave is not paid in Ireland. If employees want to take such leave, they must be able to survive without wages for a period, which many cannot do. The vast majority of employers do not make any payment to employees in respect of parental leave. No social insurance benefit is available to support working parents to take the leave to which they are entitled. If we are serious about wanting to assist working parents to have a family life, action must be taken to ensure that parental leave attracts a payment.

Other speakers have noted that parental leave offers crucial recognition of the caring role of fathers. It facilitates the possibility of bonding between fathers and their children, and provides the opportunity for fathers to offer essential support to mothers at a time when they and their babies are in their greatest need. Fathers should be paid to give that type of support. We are out of step and falling far behind other EU member states in this regard. The UK has only recently introduced the right to two weeks' paid paternity leave and Portugal, Spain and Sweden also have a statutory entitlement to leave for fathers at the time of childbirth.

The current legislation provides that employers and workers can agree more flexible arrangements. However, while there are many excellent examples of businesses operating flexible parental leave schemes, too many workplaces still take an old fashioned approach. Some do not even allow requests for flexibility to be made.

It would be interesting if research was carried out by the Department to ascertain progress to date, as suggested by a number of groups working in the area of parental leave. Following such research, legislation could be introduced and improved upon in light of the experience gained. However, research such as this should be conducted.

The National Women's Council made a number of suggestions as to what should or could have been included in the Bill, one of which was for a further increase in the funding for the equal opportunities child care programme, which is availed of throughout the country. In my constituency, the areas of Lismore and Dungarvan have not to date received any aid in this regard. West County Waterford is one of the worst served areas of the country in terms of the provision of child care facilities. This should be investigated and Lismore and Dungarvan should be given grant aid under the equal opportunities child care programme. The National Women's Council made a number of other valid suggestions which should have been taken on board by the Department.

Parents should be entitled to paid parental leave. One-parent families in particular need that type of support. The Minister should consider the suggestions made by various speakers and address them on Committee Stage.