S.I. No. 658/2004 - Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 8) (Commencement) Order, 2004

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 658 of 2004 .

SOCIAL WELFARE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT, 2004 (SECTION 8) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 2004.

S.I. No. 658 of 2004 .

SOCIAL WELFARE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT, 2004 (SECTION 8) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 2004.

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 8 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (No. 9 of 2004), hereby orders as follows:

Citation.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 8) (Commencement) Order, 2004.

Commencement.

2. The 18th day of October 2004 is appointed as the day on which section 8 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (No. 9 of 2004) comes into operation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This order provides for the commencement of Section 8 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004.

The Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provides for a range of improvements in the maternity leave arrangements arising from the recommendations of the Working Group on the Review and Improvement of the Maternity Protection Legislation. Section 8 provides for a number of amendments to the Maternity Benefit scheme consequent on the amendments to maternity leave. These amendments provide for:

(a) a reduction from 4 weeks to 2 weeks in the minimum period of Maternity Benefit which must be taken before the expected date of birth, and consequential amendments, and

(b) the power to make Regulations to allow for the splitting of the period of Maternity Benefit in situations where the infant is hospitalised.