Adoptive parents' work leave is to be increased by two weeks under a new Adoption Bill to be published soon. However, the extra leave cannot be taken retrospectively and will only apply to mothers. The extra time will bring the statutory period of paid adoptive leave to 16 weeks.
Announcing the increase, the Minister of State for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, said it was a significant development towards updating the adoption legislation.
"I welcome these amendments to adoptive leave which will greatly enhance and strengthen the existing framework for adopting persons," he said.
"Since coming into office I have become aware of the need to look very critically at adoption legislation."
"The primary legislation was drafted 60 years ago, at a time when Irish society was very different in many ways from the society we live in today."
Mr Lenihan was speaking in Dublin yesterday at the start of a two-day conference on the public consultation on adoption.
The conference is debating current adoption issues, both domestic and inter-country.
These include possible alternatives to adoption, such as guardianship; and what information should be available to adopted people, natural parents and others affected by adoption.
Mr Lenihan said he was anxious to get the views of those most affected by the legislation "so that we can avoid the mistakes of the past".
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