---
title: Chair of Oireachtas Women's Caucus calls for legislation giving statutory right to maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas to be fast-tracked
description: FF
---

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# [Chair of Oireachtas Women's Caucus calls for legislation giving statutory right to maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas to be fast-tracked](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/chair-of-oireachtas-womens-caucus-calls-for-legislation-giving-statutory-right-to-maternity-leave-for-members-of-the-oireachtas-to-be-fast-tracked)

 Written by [Fianna Fáil](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/author/fianna-fáil) | 09 August 2024

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, the Chair of the Oireachtas Women's Caucus, has said that legislation recently approved by Government that would introduce a statutory right to maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas must be fast-tracked once the Oireachtas returns from Summer recess.

 

The Government approved the drafting of a Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024 in July and it has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting.

 

Senator O'Loughlin said: *"The statutory right to maternity leave for Oireachtas Members is something that I have consistently called for as Chair of the Women's Caucus and I have had a number of meetings with Minister O'Gorman on the matter.*

* *

*"I welcome the recent approval by Government for the drafting of legislation that would introduce maternity leave for Oireachtas members. It is vital that this legislation is now fast-tracked as much as possible. *

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*"We have a situation where Deputy Holly Cairns has announced her pregnancy, and I wish her very well with it, but it is simply not right that she has no statutory right to maternity leave. *

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*"What is important now is that we absolutely need to have this legislation in place in time for the next mandate for women who will be coming into the Oireachtas. *

* *

*"I am also calling for the introduction of paternity leave for Oireachtas members. While the Minister has said that we need to have the maternity leave in place first, which I agree with, it is still beyond time for this and we need to get it resolved as quickly as we possibly can."*

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**-ENDS-**

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