Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith linn don phlé. Mar atá ráite ag mo chomhghleacaithe cheana, is plé thar a bheith tábhachtach é a téann go mór i bhfeidhm ar shaol tuismitheoirí fud fad na Sé Contae is Fiche. The Minister of State is welcome to the important step, certainly in the Seanad, with regard to the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill. As indicated in the other House, Sinn Féin will support the Bill's passage through the Seanad for many positive reasons, none of which I need to rehearse, and the tangible benefits for child development, social sustainability and educational development and attainment. What the Bill seeks to do seems very simple but, nevertheless, its broader repercussions will be positive and long lasting in terms of their beneficial impact on our economy, society, communities and families.

The provisions in the Bill extend parental leave from 18 weeks of unpaid leave per child up to the age of eight to 26 weeks, or six months. A period of 18 weeks is required by EU legislation. As has been said previously, it is time that the provision here was revisited and expanded.The actual weeks of leave proposed in the Bill would be of enormous benefit to parents. It would be particularly helpful for many parents on occasions such as changed school holidays, or parents wishing to spend more time with their children or their child in his or her formative years. Certainly my party has stated for some time that we must go much further on this issue and we have proposed that and included additional measures in our alternative budgets in the past. In this State the combined maternal and paternal leave is 60 weeks. In the European Union, the average is 97.8 weeks. It is clear that there is a substantial disparity that needs to be bridged and certainly this proposed legislation goes some way to doing that.

I have more to say but to be fair it has been covered already by previous speakers. There is a general sense of unanimity and support for the Bill because we all acknowledge and know the benefits. I ask my colleague, Senator Coffey, for the figure in Waterford.