Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
439. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he will consider introducing legislation to facilitate breastfeeding in the workplace, including adequate breaks for breastfeeding and dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31736/20]
View answerUnder Section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, mothers in employment who have given birth within the previous 6 months (26 weeks) and who are breastfeeding are entitled to take one hour paid time off work each day in order to breastfeed. At the choice of the employer, a breastfeeding mother may breastfeed in the workplace or express breast milk, where facilities are provided in the workplace by the employer or, where facilities are not made available, have their working hours reduced (without loss of pay) to facilitate breastfeeding.
“FIRST 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children ad their Families” provides for a review of the relevant provisions of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 on the issue of extending the current entitlement to paid time off work for breastfeeding mothers from 26 to 104 weeks after the baby’s birth. This reflects a similar commitment in the National Strategy on Women and Girls 2017-2020, which my Department now coordinates and oversees following the transfer of functions last week. Work is underway in my Department on legislative proposals in this regard.
