Feb 6, 2006

Mr. Brendan Smith, T.D., Minister of State has welcomed new arrangements for maternity and adoptive leave which will come into effect on 1^st March 2006 and 1^st March 2007.

Minister Smith states that these increases significantly improve the existing leave entitlements for working mothers on the birth or adoption of their child and they will offer greater choice to parents in how they decide to care for their child in the early stages of its life.

 

The Fianna Fáil T.D states that the rate of these increases is particularly significant when one considers that between now and March next year paid maternity leave will increase by 8 weeks, an increase of almost 45% and that in the same period adoptive leave will have increased by 50%.

 

Minister Smith states that these increases bring the total maternity and adoptive leave entitlements to 42 and 40 weeks respectively, an increase of 133% and 186% since 1997.

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