Ireland: bill passed allowing postponement of maternity leave in event of serious illness

On 23 October, the Irish parliament adopted a bill introducing the right for an employee to postpone her maternity leave in the event of serious illness (physical or mental), subject to medical certification. The deferral period is between five and 52 weeks. This does not affect other forms of leave, such as unpaid maternity leave and parental leave. The text follows the #LeaveOurLeave campaign launched in 2023 by the Irish Cancer Society. The society called on the government to change the...