Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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408. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he supports the proposal for pregnant women who become sick while pregnant to be allowed to take sick leave and defer their maternity leave; and if he will bring forward legislation to bring this into effect. [23991/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children.

Work is ongoing to develop legislative proposals to allow women undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses postpone their maternity leave.

It is planned to bring this forward together with a number of amendments arising out of my Department’s review of Ireland’s equality legislation. My officials are finalising these proposals and I intend to bring them to Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks.