Dáil Contribution on Family and Caring Leave
Full Transcript:
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Before I put this question I want to acknowledge that the Minister will take Second Stage of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 later this afternoon. I acknowledge the work the Government has been doing on an ongoing basis on the well-being framework. Will the Minister outline the various forms of family and caring leave that have been expanded in Ireland over the past ten years? Has his attention been drawn to any data measuring how beneficial they have been to families during this time? What are the plans for future provision that are under consideration? Will the Minister make a statement on this?
Deputy Roderic O’Gorman
There have been significant advances in the provision of family leave in recent years. Since coming into office I have prioritised the expansion of types of family leave in line with Government policy and European legislation. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 provides working parents with an entitlement to seven weeks of paid parental leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
The intention of that leave is to enable parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years. When this Government took office, the leave amounted to two weeks per parent per year. That has now been increased by five weeks, bringing it to seven weeks. I have done this in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. Having talked to some of my friends who are at that stage of life, I know it is a measure that is making a real difference. In addition, the legislation has been corrected to address an anomaly whereby male same-sex adopting parents could not avail of paid adoptive leave.
As the Deputy mentioned, the work life balance Bill was before the Dáil yesterday and will resume today. Under the Bill, parents and carers will have the right to request flexible working, in line with Article 9 of the EU directive, and five days unpaid leave per year for medical care purposes will be introduced. The Bill will also extend the current entitlement to breastfeeding or lactation breaks, under the Maternity Protection Acts, from six months to two years. This is a significant measure. As so many women take up their full entitlement of maternity leave, which they are right to do, they do not get to avail of the right of breastfeeding breaks. The fact that the cut-off point will no longer be six months and will increase to two years will be of significance benefit to women returning to work after giving birth. On Committee Stage, we will bring in five days’ paid domestic violence leave. This is important legislation for which there is strong support across the House and I look forward to introducing these measures.
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh
The question was tabled by Deputy Leddin. The timeframe of the question is interesting in that it covers the past ten years. My oldest child is now ten years old. I was teaching at the time of his birth and remember well that I had three days’ leave, and by the time I had the second fella, it had been extended to two weeks’ leave. It moved away from the perception that what dad was doing after the birth of a child was going to a pub. Those days off were not of benefit to me. They were a huge benefit to my wife and infant, who had arrived at the house. Much of the early routine was established during the longer two-week period, and now the length of the leave has been extended again. It is hugely important for things that can be overwhelming such as the first nappy, which was quite an experience, and for mums settling into a breastfeeding routine and getting through the period of chronic lack of sleep in the first few weeks. All these measures are so important and welcome.
Deputy Roderic O’Gorman
Central to what we are trying to do is to support the rebalancing of those caring responsibilities and move away from the perception, as described by the Deputy, of what mam and dad are doing at this time. That is why parents’ leave is not transferable, and I know there was some criticism of this at the time, but that is how it has to be. There are seven weeks for the mother and seven weeks for the father. If he does not take up the leave, that is fine, but it will not be transferred. It is there to support fathers and families to do those things, which I believe is the right approach.
As to the importance of breastfeeding, our colleague, Senator Pauline O’Reilly, tabled a motion in the Seanad yesterday on medical and other supports in that regard. This measure is a practical support to encourage mothers to be able to do that and to ensure work places recognise the importance of this and provide the additional time.
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh
I described a typical family setting in my case, but it is important that those rights are extended to same sex-couples. What we are doing in terms of domestic violence leave is also extremely important. These measures are underpinned by a thriving economy, but the economy works for society; it is not the other way around. We are seeing that reflected in some of the changes made by the Government. I mentioned the well-being framework, which is an important way of reviewing our economy and its place in facilitating society. These measures are hugely beneficial, many of which are small and will only reach a small percentage of the population. However, for the percentage of the population that these measures, such as the domestic violence leave, reach it will be hugely significant and important to them, and I hope we continue to make progress in this regard.
Deputy Roderic O’Gorman
The Government has recognised, in the programme for Government, the epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, and is introducing a range of measures, which the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is leading. This is an action I can take in my Department to support victims, recognising their risk of falling into poverty as a result of being a victim of DSGBV.
On family leave being good for the economy, it is also good for society and that is what we are trying to do. We are trying to support families in those early days when there are many pressures. Another initiative we are working on is the pilot on baby bundles, which I will roll out later this year. I admit it is a small pilot programme but it is to start that process and put in place a range of basic but important items at the start of a child’s life, as well as linking the new family, who receive this gift from the State, to those important services and supports. This programme will be very beneficial. I look forward to rolling out the pilot and hope to see a positive evaluation emerging from it.
