A review of the maternity protection legislation was carried out in 2000 by a working group, chaired by my Department, which comprised the social partners and relevant Departments and agencies. The working group was set up in accordance with commitments in the An Action Programme for the Millennium and the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The report of the working group on the review and improvement of the maternity protection legislation was published in February 2001.
Significant improvements have already resulted from the review of the legislation in that paid maternity leave was increased from 14 weeks to 18 weeks in March 2001 and unpaid maternity leave from four to eight weeks. The outstanding recommendations of the working group have been incorporated into the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003, which was published and initiated in Seanad Éireann on 2 May 2003. The Bill is currently progressing through the Seanad and is scheduled for Committee Stage this afternoon. It is expected to be enacted early in 2004.
The Parental Leave Act 1998 implemented the Parental Leave Directive 96/34/EC. The Act provides for an individual and non-transferable entitlement to both parents for 14 weeks unpaid leave from work to take care of children up to age five years. In accordance with section 28 of the Parental Leave Act 1998 and a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, my Department chaired a working group which undertook a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 in 2001. The working group comprised the social partners, relevant Departments and the Equality Authority. The report of the working group on the review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 was published on 29 April 2002 and is available at www.justice.ie Paternity leave was considered by the working group, taking into account the following issues: reconciliation of work and family life and balanced participation of men and women in work and family life; cost to employers; and the comparative situation in EU member states.