Maternity Leave

466. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department plans on introducing additional flexible supports for parents returning to work after having a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35897/26]

744. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage and number of women that availed of their full entitlement of maternity leave in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16671/26]

745. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage and number of women that availed of their full entitlement of parents leave in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16672/26]

207. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Taoiseach the data on the percentage and number of women who availed of additional maternity leave in each of the years 2020 to 2025. [14436/26]

247. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby pregnant women are not given adequate job protection in advance of taking maternity leave (details supplied); if this is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4739/26]

248. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the protections in place for pregnant women who believe they have been made redundant in advance of maternity leave as a means of removing them from company payroll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4740/26]

249. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work that is ongoing within her Department to ensure fair treatment for pregnant women in terms of maternity leave, sick leave and appropriate working conditions, regardless of their position within a company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4741/26]

250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of existing regulations in relation to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4742/26]

251. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way Ireland compares to other EU counties in terms of the level of employment protection given to pregnant women in advance of taking maternity leave; her views on whether the existing protections are sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/26]

252. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the UK law, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023, that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statem…

253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the French law, under the French Labour Code (Article L1225-4) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether that comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the German law, under the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47…

255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the Dutch law, the Dutch Civil Code (Article 7:670(2) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4747/26]

256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of existing laws and regulations related to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace and maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/26]

518. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby pregnant women are not given adequate job protection in advance of taking maternity leave (details supplied); if this is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70889/25]

519. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the protections in place for pregnant women who believe they have been made redundant in advance of maternity leave as a means of removing them from company payroll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70890/25]

520. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work that is ongoing within her Department to ensure fair treatment for pregnant women in terms of maternity leave, sick leave and appropriate working conditions, regardless of their position within a company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70891/25]

521. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of existing regulations in relation to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70892/25]

522. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on how Ireland compares to other EU counties in terms of the level of employment protection given to pregnant women in advance of taking maternity leave; her views on whether existing protections are sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70893/25]

523. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on how Ireland compares to the United Kingdom in terms of the level of employment protection given to pregnant women in advance of taking maternity leave; her views on whether existing protections are sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70894/25]

750. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the recognition of parents who must avail of surrogacy is treated differently when it comes to maternity or adoptive leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66279/25]

1888. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the programme for Government’s commitment to introduce paid surrogacy leave, including the expected timelines and details of any work undertaken, to date in 2025. [44862/25]

1900. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason public sector workers face discrimination and inequalities in terms of paid surrogacy leave in comparison with their private sector counterparts; and if she will make a statement on the matter (details supplied). [45084/25]

260. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if intending parents in surrogacy arrangements are entitled to maternity and paternity benefit or leave; and if they may be entitled to other forms of family leave, such as parental leave and parent's leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38341/25]

883. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing an additional payment for expectant mothers who are not eligible for maternity payment through their private employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29127/25]