Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1854. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a timeline for when she expects the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 to be presented for debate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19704/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 was approved by Government in November of last year. The General Scheme was included for Priority Drafting in the Spring Legislative Programme. It was renamed here as the Equality and Family Leaves (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to account for potential proposed additions related to surrogacy leave and leave for pregnancy loss.

It is my intention to refer the General Scheme to the relevant Oireachtas Committee once that Committee has been formed so that it may undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. I welcome the opportunity that this process gives for debate and feedback before the drafting of the Bill is complete.