Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:

"3.—The Minister shall, on 31 March 2005 and annually thereafter, publish a statement detailing the reasons why parental leave may not be transferred between parents.".

I do not understand why we do not make rules and laws that are flexible and that would make life easier for those who are going to avail of provisions and benefits. This is one example. I do not see how allowing leave to be transferable would cause disruption to the employers and it would be of great benefit to the two people who are responsible for a child. While this Bill is welcome, despite all its flaws, rather than confining leave to one individual, it would be of more benefit to allow leave to be transferable between the two people in charge of the child. I did not understand why this amendment was not acceptable on Committee Stage. I hope the Minister of State will now accept it.