I move amendment No. 11: In page 6, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Duty to preserve and furnish statement of relevant records 9. (1) An information source shall, subject to subsections (8) and (11) , in respect of a relevant record in his or her possession— (a) retain the relevant record, (b) maintain the relevant record, and (c) where the relevant record is in the State, prevent the removal of the relevant record from the State. (2) The Director may, where he or she is of the view that— (a) a p…

I move amendment No. 12: In page 6, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Offences 10. (1) An information source or a person acting on behalf of an information source who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, knowingly in relation to a relevant record other than a relevant record certified in accordance with section 9(6) — (a) conceals, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies the relevant record, (b) fails to maintain the relevant record, or (c) removes the relevant record (where, on the coming int…

I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Service of notice 11. (1) Subject to subsection (3) , a notice under section 9(2) to be served on or given to a person shall be addressed to the person concerned by name and may be so served on or given to the person in one of the following ways: (a) by delivering it in person; (b) by leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in a case in which an address for service has been furnished, at that address;…

I move amendment No. 14: In page 6, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Amendment of Act of 1986 12. Section 4(1) of the Act of 1986 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (f): “(fa) the performance of functions assigned to the Director under Part 3 of the Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Act 2024 , ”.” .

I move amendment No. 15: In page 3, line 8, after “Oireachtas;” to insert the following: “to amend the Employment Equality Act 1998; to amend the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; to provide for the preservation, in the public interest, of certain records relating to certain institutions and bodies;”.

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 233(2), Standing Order 187 is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Maternity Protection Bill 2024, that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill, in order to provide for: amendments to the Employment Equality Act 1998, to restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment; amendments to ensure the preservation of a…

I thank Deputy Kerrane for her contribution. We will have the opportunity to discuss the provisions of the Bill in depth tomorrow, in respect of the original two proposals which are, as we know, to introduce a right for women to defer maternity leave for up to a year if they become ill during their maternity leave and allow them recover for the particular serious illness they are facing but also allow them to enjoy the full benefit of their maternity leave. Second, it will provide for maternity leave for Oireachtas…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of this important legislation. It is incredibly worthwhile legislation, which will have a very real impact on women at a very important juncture in their lives. The Bill provides for two main areas of reform. The first is to allow a pause in maternity leave for treatment for women facing serious illness. In this regard, I acknowledge three women whose tireless campaigning work has made such a huge cont…

It is built in.

No, it was fully published.

I thank all the Deputies for their contributions and their assurance of support for both the core legislation and the two sets of amendments that we will seek to bring forward next week. In terms of the process, the amendments on NDAs relating to private records will be printed by the Bills Office tomorrow and will be available for full view. Next Wednesday we will have the opportunity to discuss them in full detail on Committee and Remaining Stages A number of Deputies raised the scope of the right to seek a defer…

I will begin by stating the absolutely central importance of child protection. While central to work in my Department, it must be something that every one of us is cognisant of and takes with the utmost seriousness. It is simply too important to be used as a political football. Tusla, which falls within the remit of my Department, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Referral rates to Tusla continue to increase year…

I am pleased to address the issues raised in the motion tabled by Deputy Tully. The Government will not oppose the motion but we will use our time to demonstrate what we have delivered in the sphere of disability over the past four years. The motion touches on a wide range of issues, spanning the remit of several different Departments, including my own. I will provide some details of measures across other Departments highlighted in the motion, insofar as time will allow. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will…

Will be ratified.

Yes, that is correct.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of this important legislation. It is an incredibly worthwhile Bill and one which will have a very real impact on women at a hugely important juncture in their lives. The Bill provides for two main areas of reform. These are, first, a pause in maternity leave for treatment for serious illness and, second, maternity leave for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I begin by acknowledging two women who had hoped to be with us in the Chamber this af…

I thank all Senators for their contributions to the debate this afternoon and for their strong welcome for the key principles behind this Bill. I believe this is very important legislation. I am conscious of the real impact it will have on the lives of individuals at some very significant moments in their lives. There is widespread support for the proposals to allow seriously ill women to pause their maternity leave. I am determined to bring this proposal through enactment. I am very pleased that under this legisla…

I thank the Senator for her proposed amendment and for powerfully articulating the need to legislate in this space and create that new entitlement for parents of children born via surrogacy to have the opportunity to spend time with their babies in the same way that all other parents do. I, along with the Ministers for Health and Justice, met a number of groups that represent surrogate and prospective surrogate parents some weeks ago. This was in the context of the wider surrogacy legislation being brought through …

I move: That Dáil Éireann, noting that the Government, on 19th September, 2024, agreed to nominate Liam Herrick for appointment by the President as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, recommends, pursuant to section 13(1)(b) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (No. 25 of 2014), that Liam Herrick be appointed by the President as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 16th September, 2024, be referred to the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 10th October, 2024, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 101, and Standing Order 100(2) shall accordingly ap…