The EU Directive on the Framework Agreement on Parental Leave was formally adopted at the Social Affairs Council which I the Minister for Equality and Law Reform attended in Luxembourg on 3 June.
He has followed the progress of this dossier closely since becoming Minister for Equality and Law Reform. As far back as 1993 he supported this proposal at the Social Affairs Council but the necessary unanimity required for its adoption was not achieved. He is very pleased, therefore, to welcome adoption of this directive now notwithstanding the fact that it will not apply in the United Kingdom in view of the UK opt-out of the Social Agreement of the Maastricht Treaty which provides the legal base for this measure.
Implementation of a provision for parental leave for mothers and fathers is a logical development for the Department at this stage representing as it does the next in a series of family and parental statutory measures aimed at supporting the reconciliation of family life and work commitments. The Maternity Protection Act, 1994 and the Adoptive Leave Act, 1995, which he introduced, were important steps in this regard.
A significant aspect of this directive is that its provision for parental leave has been devised and agreed by employer and worker interests at EU level. He is aware that both IBEC and ICTU, representing Irish employers and workers, participated constructively in the European social partner agreement. He is sure that such involvement will greatly enhance the preparation and progress of Irish legislation to give effect to this directive.
Although the EU timetable for implementation of the directive only commenced on 3 June last, the Department has already had preliminary consultations with IBEC and contacts with ICTU are also under way. Although further consultations are envisaged I expect that the legislation to be brought forward to implement this directive will seek to provide for parental leave from work of three months duration for each parent.