On 21 April, the Government approved proposals for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, the primary purpose of which is to provide for transposition of elements the EU Work Life Balance Directive and extend the current entitlement to breastfeeding/lactation breaks under the Maternity Protection Acts from six months to two years.
The extension of breastfeeding breaks is an important support for mothers returning to the workforce after the birth of their child, and will facilitate the combination of breastfeeding and working in line with the WHO recommendation to continue breastfeeding, in combination with suitably nutritious and safe complementary foods, until children are two years old. The proposals are in line with commitments in FIRST 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families and the National Strategy for Women and Girls.
The General Scheme was referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which published its report on 9 June.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to finalise this Bill in time for it to be introduced to the Oireachtas and enacted before the Summer recess due to the significant volume of current legislative work and the importance in ensuring that the Directive is correctly transposed. I am committed to bringing this Bill to Government at the earliest opportunity in the autumn.
