Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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457. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend the Parental Leave Act, in order that persons working for different employers in the public service would be able to transfer their parental leave from one parent to the other; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1021/16]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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458. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is intended to amend the Parental Leave Act, in order that persons working in the education sector, and receiving their payments from the Department of Education and Skills, would be able to transfer their parental leave from one parent to the other; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1022/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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484. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to extend provisions in the Parental Leave Act whereby parents can transfer up to 14 weeks of parental leave to the other parent, currently only available if the individuals work for the same employer or in any Department in the Civil Service, in order to provide this benefit to all parents where both employers agree and to other public sector workers. [46810/15]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 458 and 484 together.

Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended) both parents are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave in respect of each child under the age of eight years with certain extensions allowed for adoptees or children with a disability or long-term illness. I have no plans to change the current arrangements along the lines suggested by the Deputy. Aside from the considerable management difficulties that would arise in relation to employees transferring leave outside a common employer, the impact of the proposal referred to in the Question in terms of gender equality in the workplace would need careful consideration.