Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

That is amendment No. 6. This proposal, related to maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas, was carefully drafted with the Office of the Attorney General to avoid any perceived overstep in relation to the separation of powers. However, given the subject matter of what we are doing, in allowing all women to have the ability to defer their maternity leave in the event of serious illness, it would be strange at the same time that we are providing maternity leave for Oireachtas Members, not to provide the same right to them. Amendment No. 6 clarifies that and ensures that if female Members of the Oireachtas become seriously ill during their maternity leave, they have the same rights to defer it as all other women.