Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak on this section as well as I have a couple of amendments. I can never put it as eloquently as Senator Higgins but I am going to try. My amendments are Nos. 18 and 19 and I have tabled amendment No. 21, which is the same. The age of 12 is far too low. The age limit does not make sense. If a 13-year-old or an older teenager requires the care of a parent or legal guardian, the Bill should not exclude them from availing of the flexibility of work-from-home benefits. While the Bill does include greater provisions for parents of children who have disabilities or long-term illnesses, there are many children who require care who may not have a disability or a long-term illness. For example, children may have behavioural issues. More often children have mental health issues. Sometimes these issues can result in self-harming. I am not too sure if anybody in this room has had a child who self-harms or who would be on suicide watch. That parent is required there all of the time. He or she is literally watching the child morning, noon and night to make sure the child does not take any action that might cause very serious harm or death. The age of 12 just seems a little bit young. I would like it increased to 16. With regard to the disability provision, I would also like that raised to age 18.