Vol. 516 No. 5
238 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the provision for maternity leave and the conditions applying to maternity leave compare with other European countries; and the proposals if any he has to improve the situation. [8492/00]
The Maternity Protection Act, 1994, which implements the employment rights provisions of the EU Pregnant Workers' Directive (92/85/EEC), provides that all female employees who have notified their employer that they are pregnant are entitled to 14 consecutive weeks' maternity leave plus four weeks' unpaid additional maternity leave. The Act also provides an entitlement to time off work for ante-natal and post-natal medical appointments and to health and safety leave in certain circumstances.
In view of the different conditions which apply to the taking of maternity leave in EU member states, it is difficult to make comparisons. However, the position regarding the length of paid maternity leave to which there is entitlement in EU member states, based on a 1998 publication of the European Commission, is set out in the following table.
A review of the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, is being undertaken by my Department, in accordance with the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium, which provides that key priorities regarding women's rights will include the review and improvement of maternity protection legislation. It is intended to complete this review by September 2000.
|
Country |
Provisions |
|
Austria |
16 Weeks |
|
Belgium |
15 Weeks |
|
Denmark |
18 Weeks |
|
Finland |
105 Days |
|
France |
16 Weeks26 Weeks for 3rd andsubsequent children34-46 Weeks in the event ofmultiple births |
|
Germany |
14 Weeks |
|
Greece |
16 Weeks |
|
Ireland |
14 Weeks |
|
Italy |
5 Months |
|
Luxembourg |
16-20 Weeks |
|
The Netherlands |
16 Weeks |
|
Portugal |
98 Days |
|
Spain |
16 Weeks |
|
Sweden |
14 Weeks |
|
UK |
18 Weeks |
