Trevor Sargent
Question:26 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to end the anomaly whereby paid maternity leave is available to civil servants and company employees but not to self-employed women.
Written Answers. - Maternity Leave Anomaly.
The Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981 provides a statutory protection for employment rights of employees who absent themselves from work in accordance with the terms of the Act.
Self-employed workers regulate their own contractual conditions and legislative protection along the lines of that applied to employees is not appropriate.
The question of payment during periods of absence on maternity leave is governed by the Social Welfare Acts and is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.