Every year, 14,000 expectant women lose their babies. This equates to roughly 25% of pregnancies ending in a loss, which is clearly a traumatic and difficult time for any woman. Currently, those women need to rely on sick leave to deal with the loss they are going through. Are there any plans to introduce paid miscarriage leave as a stand-alone support for women affected by miscarriage and their families?

That was the subject of a debate in the Seanad recently. The Government has an open mind on this. I will give consideration to it but there is a time lead into this and so forth.