Amendments Nos. 97 and 98 are related and may be discussed together.
SECTION 35.
I move amendment No. 97:
In page 26, paragraph (c), line 4, to delete "to keep under review the working of this Act" and substitute "to provide information to the public on and to keep under review the working of this Act, the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, the Adoptive Leave Act, 1995,".
These amendments follow a change made to the Employment Equality Bill during its passage through this House. Section 73 of that Bill, as passed by Dáil Éireann, amends the Employment Equality Act, 1977 to bring a review of the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 and the Adoptive Leave Act, 1995 within the ambit of the Equality Authority. The present Bill repeals the Employment Equality Act, 1977 and, therefore, if these functions of the authority are not to lapse with the repeal they must be included in the functions of the authority as set out in the Bill.
The amendment also makes the provision of information to the public on the relevant statutes a function of the authority. This will give a statutory base for the existing de facto information function of the authority in relation to the Maternity Protection Act and the Adoptive Leave Act. I am sure Deputies will agree that these are helpful amendments.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 98:
In page 26, paragraph (c), line 7, to delete "either or both" and substitute "any".
Amendment agreed to.
Section 35, as amended, agreed to.