Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators for the contributions they have made to the Bill and the constructive approach that was taken. It was not possible to accept a number of amendments that were proposed.

With regard to Senator Terry's proposal today, the Bill does not allow for paid time off for overseas meetings in the case of foreign adoptions. This was strongly rejected by employers because of cost, and it should be remembered that there are costs to employers already contained in the Bill. These allow parents paid time off for meetings in Ireland with social workers and to attend preparation classes, etc. It was therefore not possible to allow those amendments based on today's contribution.

The Adoptive Leave Bill 2004 is the second of three key pieces of legislation in the area of balancing life and work. The Government committed to these under the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement. Significant improvements have come about in maternity leave provisions, which have already been implemented by the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004. Work is well advanced on the Government commitment to implement a number of improvements to the parental leave scheme. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004, published last December, has been passed in the Seanad and is currently on Second Stage in the Dáil.

Senators may be interested to know that the majority of the Bill's provisions will commence within weeks of enactment. Section 9, providing for the postponement of adoptive leave in the event of the hospitalisation of the child, and associated sections, will commence at a later date as amendments to social welfare legislation are required to permit splitting of the payment of adoptive leave benefit.

I thank the Members of the House, the staff of the House, the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the staff in my own Department for their supportive role in the amendments and improvements to the Bill.