Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The term "cohabitant" is not always interpreted that widely, although it does cover certain households. To be clear, the provisions of the EU directive are a signal of direction, an encouragement and a move in the right direction, but they do not set a limit on what we can do. Just as many countries had much better parental leave policies than Europe required them to have, there is nothing that says we cannot have something that is better or that goes further. Ireland has a particular record in recognising different kinds of relationships, for example, through the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. That is important. I do not believe some of the circumstances my amendment provides for would be used too much because I have included the safeguard that, if any of these other people, such a parent, have used the provisions of this section, those included in my amendment may not. For example, a cohabitant may have used the medical care leave. This only applies to those circumstances where no one is taking medical care leave in respect of a person who needs medical care. Take for example a grandparent who has a 19-year-old grandchild whom nobody else is coming to help. That grandchild may not live with that grandparent. Unfortunately, we have had situations where grandparents have been the carers for grandchildren. The parents may not be in a position to be the main carer. If you are a grandparent who works and your 19-year-old grandchild is in need of medical care, in circumstances where nobody else is stepping in, you should be able to. I am not going to force this-----