Vol. 506 No. 2
80 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to bring children born before 3 June 1996 within the terms of the Parental Leave Act, 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15369/99]
There are no plans at this time to amend the Parental Leave Act, 1998 to bring children born before 3 June 1996 within the terms of the Act.
As the Deputy is aware, in accordance with Article 169 of the European Treaty, the European Commission notified the Government, by letter dated 11 March 1999, that it was of the view that Ireland, by restricting entitlement to parental leave to children born or adopted on or after 3 June 1996, had included a condition in the Parental Leave Act, 1998 which is not permitted under the Parental Leave Directive (96/34/EC).
Under the established procedures covering Article 169 proceedings, Ireland has two months from the date of the communication from the European Commission within which to respond to the issue raised in it. In accordance with these procedures, a response was forwarded on 4 May, to the European Commission, via the Permanent Representation. The response, copies of which have been sent to the Oireachtas Library, sets out the reasons for the approach adopted by Ireland in the context of the Parental Leave Act, 1998. The matter is now in the hands of the European Commission. Accordingly, it would be premature to contemplate any amendment to the legislation at present.
