asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce proposals for legislation to give an employed husband legal entitlement to three weeks or less absence from work while his wife is ill or immediately following the completion of her pregnancy.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Absence from Work Proposals.
18.
Legislation of this nature is not comtemplated at present.
Would the Minister not consider it desirable to have legislation of this nature?
The fact that such legislation is not being contemplated does not mean that it is not desirable or that it may not be considered in future. We were represented on the sub-committee on Women at Work, in the Council of Europe and the resolution adopted by that committee would proceed now for approval and, later, would be presented to the Council of Ministers. At that stage I expect we would pronounce an attitude in regard to it. Personally I would be in favour of such legislation but the position is that it is not under consideration at the moment.
Another matter which is related to this but which may not come within the jurisdiction of the Minister is the question of women who leave work because of pregnancies and who experience great difficulty in securing unemployment benefit because of the adoption by the Department of Social Welfare of the attitude that these women are not available for employment. Is the Minister aware of this situation?
That would seem to be a separate matter.
I agree with the point being made by the Deputy. No doubt he has come across this problem in his constituency as I have in my constituency. Representations were made recently to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare in the matter and I would hope to see some developments in relation to it.