Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I would make choices, as the Senator should be prepared to do in this debate. I favour paying more money to parents in working class areas and in parts of rural Ireland who cannot go to work because of difficulties relating to child care and the poverty trap in which they find themselves. It would be better to do so than to make parental leave available to the Michael Smurfits of this country. It is a matter of choice and for future negotiation between the social partners.

Parental leave will be introduced and I agree with Senator O'Toole that the Exchequer can afford it. Every time I attend a European Council meeting, my ministerial colleagues look on with awe at our economic miracle. The Senator has been a contributor in no small way to that but our economic model should not be changed easily. Change should only be made through the partnership model, which has served us well through the years.

Senator Terry asked about the meaning of "the relevant Act" in section 2(8)(c). It is defined in section 2(9) as the Parental Leave Act 2004, which will be replaced by this legislation when it is enacted.