Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 7 amends subsection 9(2)(d) of the Bill on the date of commencement of proposed leave. This amendment was initially proposed by Senator Tuffy but was not accepted. However, an identical amendment was proposed by Deputy Moynihan-Cronin and, on reflection, I was happy to accept it at that point. The Bill as passed by the Seanad provides that postponed leave must be taken as one continuous period beginning not later than seven days after the child is discharged from hospital. The amendment allows the employee and employer the scope to agree on another date for the commencement of the postponed leave if they wish. The amended provision produces a greater degree of flexibility for the employee while allowing the employer some discretion in the matter.