Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Health if there is any curtailment on nurses' entitlement to parental leave due to staff shortages in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2672/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Parental Leave Act, 1998 was introduced to implement Council Directive 96/34/EC of June 1996 on the framework agreement on parental leave. It came into effect on 3rd December, 1998 and provided for an entitlement for men and women to avail of 14 weeks' parental leave to enable them to take care of their young children. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act, 2006 came into effect on 18th May, 2006 and made a number of improvements to the parental leave legislation.

Public hospitals are subject to the provisions of the Act as amended.