John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is great to have the parents from CBS Dundalk here. I really appreciate that they get to come here and see our national Parliament.

I congratulate everyone involved with the Louth football team. What an incredible performance that was at the weekend. To come within the four points of arguably the greatest football team known was something to be really proud of for all those footballers from County Louth.

The issue I want to raise has been raised a couple of times previously. It is the Leave our Leave campaign, which is backed by the Irish Cancer Society. It is to make an amendment to the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, which would allow women who have received a cancer diagnosis after giving birth to be able to defer their maternity leave. At present, approximately 60 women in this country have to have chemotherapy or radiation treatment and have to use up their maternity leave to facilitate that. Interestingly, if you are a man who is diagnosed with cancer and are on parental leave, you are able to defer that parental leave. That is catered for under an Act that was implemented in 2016. The Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, has been clear that he wants to fix this. He announced that last October.

My concern is that we are at the tail end of this Government's term of office. We are coming into the final furlong. All that is needed is a simple legislative amendment to the 2004 Act, which needs to be changed. The relevant legislation has been lumped in with other Bills. The heads have not even gone to Cabinet yet. Rather than putting it in with various other issues, I appeal to the Leader and the Cathaoirleach to, in turn, appeal to the Minister to fix this issue with a simple amendment. Let us amend the 2004 Act. Let us not lump it in with other legislative priorities. Let us get it done and have equality and fairness for women who are diagnosed with cancer after giving birth.