The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, has been criticised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for failing to implement new legislation on maternity protection for women workers, parental leave, paternity and adoptive leave. ICTU's assistant general secretary, Ms Joan Carmichael, called on him to implement the measures immediately.
Speaking at a meeting of the ICTU's Equality Network yesterday, she said the Government had promised to introduce the measures 15 months ago. In the case of working mothers it would mean the right to attend antenatal classes, during working hours if necessary, the right to breast-feeding facilities in the workplace and the transfer from maternity leave to sick leave in the event of illness.
There would also be provision for a mother to split her maternity leave in the event of her baby being hospitalised, and resume leave when her baby came home.
The Minister also undertook to review the provisions of the Adoptive Leave Act, 1995. ICTU wants greater flexibility for adoptive parents, including review of the period prior to adoption or placement of a child of adopting fathers with a view to improving leave entitlements.
The Minister had failed to publish a review of the Parental Leave Act, which was concluded at the end of November 2001. ICTU had participated in the review, which contained major improvements in parental leave and recommended the introduction of paternity leave.
Ms Carmichael said: "Despite all of the rhetoric about concern for mothers, for fathers and for children they were not given the priority they deserve."