Pregnant women with cancer no longer have to use maternity leave when accessing treatment
Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, taking questions at a press confrence for the Green Party prior to their annual conference that is been held at the Clayton Hotel in Cork. - Picture: David Creedon
Pregnant women with cancer or other illnesses will no longer have to use their maternity leave when accessing medical treatment.
Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth, made the announcement at the Green Party conference in Cork city today.
Some 60 women a year suffer cancer while pregnant and the Irish Cancer Society had previously called on Government to permit women being treated or recovering from cancer to defer their maternity leave.
“Over the next number of months, I will be working to deliver on the Leave our Leave campaign by the Irish Cancer Society that women who suffer cancer or other serious illnesses during their maternity leave can avail of the full period of their maternity leave, once their treatment ends," the minister said.
The Maternity Leave Protection Act currently dictates that someone diagnosed with serious illness while pregnant must use their maternity leave to cover time off for life-saving treatment.
But the Irish Cancer Society’s Leave Our Leave campaign had pushed for a legislative change so that maternity leave could be paused while on sick leave accessing treatment.
Mr O’Gorman said that he was also proud to have brought in domestic violence leave – paid leave to ensure that someone at risk of domestic violence does not face poverty as a result of seeking help.
“I am pleased to be able to confirm today that the right of employees to seek paid Domestic Violence Leave will apply from 27 November of this year," he said.
“On that date, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the EU to introduce this important measure.
“This is a Green Party policy and it is where our participation in this Government is making a difference.” Mr O’Gorman said that the Green Party, “more than any other party” has always understood the need for work life balance.
“We have introduced a right to request remote working and flexible working. When I took office, parents were entitled to two weeks of paid parents leave after the birth of their child. By next year, that will have been extended to nine weeks for each parent.
“Where other leaves exist, it is important that those who are entitled to avail of them, can actually enjoy these benefits.”
Mr O’Gorman said that his department had also led the national effort to support more than 100,000 people who have come to Ireland, fleeing war and persecution – the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the State.
