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Parental Leave

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (487)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

487. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when legislation will be introduced regarding parental leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15267/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase paid parental leave during the first year of a child’s life, as research shows that parental care is of particular importance in the first year of life.

To further this commitment, the Government has established an interdepartmental working group to develop proposals to give effect to the programme commitments. The key objectives of this group are to:

- Develop options as to the duration of the leave, the age of the eligible child, and the level of payment to be offered;

- Determine the usefulness of adopting a phased approach;

- Estimate the likely costs arising; and

- Align any proposals as much as possible with a European Commission Proposal for a Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers which is currently under discussion at working group level under the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU.

The interdepartmental group is currently working on a policy approach and I expect it to report with its proposals towards the end of this month.  Given that the interdepartmental working group is not due to present its proposals until later this month, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be premature at this juncture to advise on the precise timeframe for the proposed introduction of new parental leave legislation.

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