Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1092: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to increase adoptive leave for parents (details supplied). [40388/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 14 December 2005.

In the interests of maintaining the parity of entitlements between adopting and natural mothers paid adoptive leave will be increased to 20 weeks in March 2006 and to 24 weeks in March 2007. Unpaid adoptive leave will be increased to 12 weeks in March 2006 and to 16 weeks in March 2007. I intend to implement the increases by way of secondary legislation.

Further to my answer to Question No. 288 of 14 December 2005, draft orders regarding the proposed increases to maternity and adoptive leave were placed before both Houses on 18 January last and motions regarding resolutions on the draft orders are on today's Order Papers for the Dáil and Seanad. While I cannot pre-empt the decision of the Oireachtas in relation to this matter, I hope to be in a position to make an order on 1 February 2006, with the consent of the Ministers for Finance and Social and Family Affairs, giving effect to the increases to employees who commence their adoptive leave or additional adoptive leave on or after 1 March 2006 and 1 March 2007 as the case may be.