Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to amend the commencement date for the extension of maternity leave, which would bring same into line with the operative for the implementation of most budgetary measures which is 1 January; and in the alternative, if same is not possible or convenient, if mothers who are commencing maternity leave before 1 March 2006 will be permitted to apply for the additional four weeks paid leave retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3682/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Orders implementing the maternity and adoptive leave increases announced in the context of budget 2006 were made yesterday, 1 February. The first phase of increases will take effect on 1 March 2006 and will apply to employees commencing their paid maternity or adoptive leave on or after that date. Similarly, any employee commencing their additional unpaid maternity or adoptive leave on or after 1 March 2006 will benefit from the increased entitlement this year. The second phase of increases will be effective from 1 March 2007. The implementation dates of these increases are consistent with the financial statement made by the Minister for Finance on 7 December last.

As regards the situation of mothers who are commencing maternity leave before 1 March 2006, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 1056 and 1057 of Wednesday, 25 January 2006, and my detailed reply to Question No. 288 of Wednesday, 14 December 2005.