Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill and the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, to the House. Given its length, we were not given much time with the legislation, which was only published yesterday. I am concerned that Members were only given a day to look over it. While we were given notice, the Bill was not provided to Senators until yesterday.

In October 2019, the House debated the Parent's Leave and Benefit Bill. A number of Senators were present, including Senator Norris who, unfortunately, is not here today as I know he is interested in this issue and has been outspoken on it. At the time, we were told by the then Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, that provisions to remove the anomaly whereby same-sex couples were unable to claim State benefits could not be included in the Bill. Unfortunately, the Government had announced such a measure approximately six months previously, as reported in an article in The Irish Times. According to the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, it was not included in the Bill because the Government wanted to get key provisions that had been announced in budget 2020 that same month signed into law and operational by 1 November of that year. While acknowledging that the anomaly existed, the Minister of State admitted that those who were still affected would have to wait. I thought it was ironic that the Minister of State’s explanation centred around not wanting to keep other parents waiting for promised increases that were announced in the budget of that year. In the lead-up to that debate, as I mentioned, there were widespread reports in the media that the anomaly affecting same-sex couples from accessing parental leave would be addressed. It was only on that day, in unscripted remarks by the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, that Senator Norris and I learned that this was not to be the case. We were faced with supporting a Bill which had obvious good points but which would also result in same-sex couples having to wait for full equality yet again.

The 2019 debate took place four years after the marriage equality referendum and I believe the issue was raised six times only to come to nothing. In November 2019, we were told the anomaly would be remedied within a short number of weeks in a civil law Bill, but that did not happen either. For this reason, I commend the Minister on bringing this measure forward and giving it the priority it deserves.

I did not come here to give a history lesson but to set out what happened because we need to learn the lessons of the past. Long after the photo shoots for marriage equality, people’s rights still need to be recognised and sometimes that costs money. Whether it is this issue or the ancillary recommendations of repealing the eighth amendment, we need to finish the job.

One of the key provisions of this Bill, the extension of paid parental leave from two to five weeks, was announced in last year's budget. We have been waiting five months for this legislation to emerge. Options such as leaving children with elderly relatives or neighbours have not been available due to the pandemic. Even when childcare providers are open, they mostly do not cater for children under the age of one. I do not need to tell anyone, particularly parents, that this has been a hard time for families. This delay has had a major impact on parents and some of them have taken unpaid leave. The Minister mentioned, according to media reports, that the Bill is to apply retrospectively. We welcome that. Am I right in saying that most people who had children in the past two years, and who have already taken the two weeks of leave introduced in November 2019, would be entitled to additional weeks if their child was born in late 2019 or 2020? I see the Minister nodding his head in agreement.

We agree with the proposal to add two new members to the board of Tusla. That measure has to be matched by increased accountability, being cognisant of the conduct of Tusla in the past which has impacted on public confidence in the organisation. There is a job of work for the board to do in improving transparency and accountability across the whole organisation. As we all know, many dedicated people work for Tusla who do incredibly important work in supporting and shaping our young people's lives. The board has a responsibility to all those who use their service and their employees to lead an organisation that is fair, accountable and transparent.

In the week of International Women's Day, I have heard some people say that the necktie is a noose around their necks and an arrow to draw attention to the crotch area. I personally think that ties can be stylish. I often wear one but when I do not, I do not feel any less like a man and I do not feel the need to wear one because I am a man.