Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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253. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce legislation providing for maternity leave for Oireachtas Members; and the constitutional and practical concerns that prevented him from including these provisions in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022, as previously committed to. [22257/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 4th April. The Act introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. The Act includes provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive, and it was important that these provisions were advanced as soon as possible.

While I had indicated my intention to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas as part of this Act, owing to the urgency of the Work Life Balance Act and the complexity of these proposals, I have decided to bring them forward separately as a stand-alone Bill.

The Government is very committed to ensuring that Members of the Oireachtas can avail of maternity leave. However there would be practical implications for the operation of the Oireachtas arising from any proposals which must be addressed before legislative proposals can be brought forward.

Provision for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas has been under active consideration by my Department and will be advanced at the earliest opportunity.