Mattie McGrath praises maternity and sick leave reforms

The Minister has been back in good form and wished him well after his brief sojourn from this House. I followed him a couple of days after, but thank God we're both back for Christmas. Minister, I too want to compliment you and all involved with this piece of reforming legislation. There's no doubt it was a backwards situation. I speak as an employer as well, and he must help employees understand. I want to wish Cathy, who works in my office, was out on maternity leave and waiting for the call any hour. I wish Orwell the delivery of a successful outcome to a company, or existing little baby, the name eludes me now, Bob and herself. But I want to say that I am delighted that this has been gone through the House, and it's so badly needed. And especially, you know, because we try to encourage young and female young as well as male, but female people, that we support them in any which way. They put no blockages in the way. There weren't too many blockages for far too long. And it's a wonderful situation to have procreation, and I wish them all well. But it's very important that they have proper leave and proper respectful leave and time to recover, and time to gel with their baby. And I also want to say on the sick leave, and I want to compliment you on being a very supportive Minister of State for local authority members. And that's what the feedback I get from you, and I know you from before you became Minister, that it's a very onerous task and a very onerous role, and they need all the supports that they can get. Because in the areas now, you probably inherited the legacy from Big Phil. The LEAs are massive, they are a huge area to cover. And while they have got an increase in rumouration, there is half there and half one. So I think these two pieces contained in this piece of legislation, the maternity and also the sick leave for both male and female, are very, very important. And it's something that the elected members, they do, they do the state's own service to court, a former leader here, the vast, vast, vast majority of them. And I think it's everybody's intention going into the public office to do good for the community and the county. And indeed, I want to say that this bill is more than welcome. And I hope that the people who are available, and that will be enacted immediately, and the people who are available will have long and happy careers and successful. And indeed, go forward and multiply. Thank you. Thank you.