With respect, I have answered this question every time the Deputy has asked it. What we are introducing is a statutory minimum provision that will apply to all workers across all sectors. Obviously, in many sectors in both the public and private sphere, employers provide more than a statutory minimum, whether that is with regard to leave, pay or a variety of issues. What we are providing for here is a statutory minimum across all sectors. It is the first time we will have this in this State. We will be one of the f…

I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, line 5, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 12, to delete lines 21 to 41, and in page 13, to delete lines 1 to 42 and substitute the following: “Obligation on employer to consider request under section 13B 13C. (1) An employer who receives a request for a flexible working arrangement submitted in accordance with section 13B(6) shall— (a) consider that request, having regard to his or her needs and the employee’s needs, and (b) as soon as reasonably practicable but, subject to subsection (2), not later than 4 weeks after recei…

I move amendment No. 14: In page 13, line 43, to delete “ proposed ”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 13, line 44, to delete “ 13E .” and substitute “ 13D .”. Amendment No. 20 inserts a new section, 13E, into the Parental Leave Act to provide for the termination of a flexible working arrangement by an employer where the arrangement would have a substantial adverse effect on the operation of their business. The employer must give four weeks' notice to the employee and set out the reasons the flexible working arrangement is being terminated. In providing such notice to the employee, t…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 13, lines 44 and 45, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 14, line 9, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 14, lines 11 and 12, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 19: In page 14, lines 21 and 22, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 20: In page 14, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “Termination in certain circumstances of flexible working arrangement 13E. (1) If, after the date on which an agreement referred to in section 13C(1)(b)(i) is signed by the employer and the employee (whether or not the approved flexible working arrangement to which it relates has commenced), the employer is satisfied that the flexible working arrangement would have, or is having, a substantial adverse effect on the operation of h…

I move amendment No. 21: In page 14, line 37, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 15, to delete lines 4 to 12 and substitute the following: “(3) An employer who receives a request referred to in subsection (1) shall consider that request, having regard to his or her needs and the employee’s needs and, as soon as reasonably practicable but not later than 4 weeks after receipt of the request, shall provide a notice in writing informing the employee that— (a) the request has been approved, or (b) the request has been refused and of the reasons for the refusal. (4) I…

I move amendment No. 23: In page 15, line 28, to delete “section 13C(1)(a)” and substitute “section 13C(1)(b)(i)”.

I move amendment No. 24: In page 15, line 30, to delete “notice).” and substitute “notice) on which the employee must return to work.”.

I move amendment No. 25: In page 16, line 2, to delete “her.”.” and substitute the following: “her. Review of Part 13H. The Minister shall, not earlier than one year and not later than 2 years after the commencement of this Part, after consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Workplace Relations Commission, persons whom he or she considers to be representative of employers generally and persons whom he or she considers to be representative of employees generally, conduct a review of …

I move amendment No. 26: In page 18, lines 3 and 4, to delete “section 21A(1),” and substitute “section 21A,”. This is a technical amendment consequential to the insertion of a revised section 21A into the Parental Leave Act by amendment No. 27. The revision of this section is intended to extend recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission for an employee where a dispute arises with regard to the provisions under sections 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F or 13G. In the current draft of the Bill, this entitlement only extends t…

I think that will probably have to be the practical implication of it, as the Deputy set out. Obviously we would like things to be heard as quickly as possible in the WRC but there are delays there so I think that would be the practical implication.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 18, to delete lines 6 to 29 and substitute the following: “Decision under section 41 or 44 of Act of 2015 in relation to dispute under sections 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F or 13G 12. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 21: “21A. (1) A decision of an adjudication officer under section 41 of the Act of 2015, or a decision of the Labour Court under section 44 of that Act on appeal from the first mentioned decision, in relation to a dispute betwee…

I move amendment No. 28: In page 18, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 22A of Principal Act 13. Section 22A of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (1), by the insertion of “other than Part IIA” after “this Act”.”.

I move amendment No. 29: In page 19, line 6, to delete “3 years.” and substitute “3 years,”.