Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans in respect of the implementation of the European Union work life balance directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53954/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission initiated a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU on 26 April 2017. The proposed directive aims to address women's under-representation in employment and support their career progression through improved conditions to reconcile their working and private duties.

Discussions on the proposed Directive will continue at working group level under the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018. The Bulgarian Presidency hopes that discussions on the Directive will progress to ‘general approach’ at the EPSCO formation of the Council in either March or June 2018. Accordingly, it is too soon to plan for the proposal’s implementation at this stage in negotiations.

The Department of Justice and Equality is leading the negotiations on behalf of Ireland.