Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
457. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19173/24]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the legislation underpinning the social welfare code, occupational and private pensions, civil registration and gender recognition and the Citizens Information Board / Comhairle.
The Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by my Department which gave effect to EU Directives since 2020 are listed below:
S.I. No. 374 of 2020 - The European Union (Posting of Workers) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 .
These Regulations transpose into Irish law Directive (EU) 2018/957, which amends Directive 96/71/EC, concerning the posting of workers within the European Union.
Section 8 of Social Welfare Act 2021 and Section 7 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023.
These Acts amended the duration of Parent’s Benefit in line with the provisions in the EU Work Life Balance Directive 2019/1158. While my colleague, Minister Roderic O'Gorman has responsibility for policy regarding parent's leave, parent's benefit is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Parent’s Benefit provides seven weeks payment to each parent of a child aged under two years, or in the two years following an adoption, who is on Parent’s Leave from work to care for their child. Parent’s Benefit will increase from seven weeks to nine weeks in August of this year (2024). Parent’s Benefit is currently €274 a week.
