Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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448. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration has been given to introducing statutory paid leave for workers who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks’ gestation; if his Department has examined international best practice in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61378/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Under current legislation, the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 provide for an employee to be entitled to full maternity leave in the case of a stillbirth after 23 weeks gestation and the Paternity Leave Act 2016 also provides for paternity leave in this situation. These Acts fall under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

Under my remit, the Sick Leave Act 2022, although it is recognised that this legislation does not provide for compassionate or bereavement leave, provides for a statutory sick pay scheme for all employees who are medically certified as unfit for work. From 1 January 2024, the entitlement to paid sick leave increased to five days. Currently, there is no statutory provision for leave when it comes to the loss of a pregnancy prior to 23 weeks gestation.

Following agreement for a 12 month timed amendment to the Organisation of Working Time (Pregnancy Related Leave) Private Members Bill 2025 to allow for sufficient time to develop Government legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill, policy options regarding pregnancy loss leave are being considered. As part of this work, officials have engaged with their counterparts in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to better understand policy developments in these jurisdictions.

Some work has already been carried out in this policy space by Government. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality previously commissioned a qualitative research study which examined the workplace experiences of people dealing with pregnancy loss before 24 weeks gestation. This study, , was published on 26 January 2024. Officials are reviewing the findings of this study, which considered leave provisions for pregnancy loss in a number of jurisdictions.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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449. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department provides guidance or recommendations to employers on introducing compassionate or bereavement leave policies for pregnancy loss in the workplace; and if there are plans to develop a national policy in this regard. [61379/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Under current legislation, the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 provide for an employee to be entitled to full maternity leave in the case of a stillbirth after 23 weeks gestation and the Paternity Leave Act 2016 also provides for paternity leave in this situation. These Acts fall under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

Under my remit, the Sick Leave Act 2022, although it is recognised that this legislation does not provide for compassionate or bereavement leave, provides for a statutory sick pay scheme for all employees who are medically certified as unfit for work. From 1 January 2024, the entitlement to paid sick leave increased to five days. Currently, there is no statutory provision for leave when it comes to the loss of a pregnancy prior to 23 weeks gestation and the Department does not provide guidance to employers in this regard.

Following agreement for a 12 month timed amendment to the Organisation of Working Time (Pregnancy Related Leave) Private Members Bill 2025 to allow for sufficient time to develop Government legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill, policy options regarding pregnancy loss leave are being considered.

Some work has already been carried out in this policy space by Government. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality previously commissioned a qualitative research study which examined the workplace experiences of people dealing with pregnancy loss before 24 weeks gestation. This study, , was published on 26 January 2024.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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450. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consultations have taken place with trade unions and employer bodies regarding the need for statutory leave following pregnancy loss; and if he will provide details of any such engagements. [61381/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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451. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consultations have taken place with trade unions and employer bodies regarding the need for statutory leave following pregnancy loss; and if he will provide details of any such engagements. [61404/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.

The Government put forward a 12 month timed amendment to the Organisation of Working Time (Pregnancy Related Leave) Private Members Bill 2025 to allow for sufficient time to develop Government legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill. Policy development is currently at an early stage but once options are more developed there will be full stakeholder engagement.

The Government fully recognises the significance of this policy area. The timed amendment is allowing Government time to thoroughly consider and assess the regulatory and policy implications of legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill.