303. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his advice to employers when medical certs being issued to employers are doing so without sufficient clinical assessment and in circumstances that would not ordinarily warrant such lengthy periods of sick leave (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51102/26]

The Sick Leave Act 2022 introduced Ireland’s first statutory entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This provides employees with sick pay for medically certified absences. The entitlement began at 3 days in 2023 and increased to 5 days from 1 January 2024. The goal of the legislation was to provide a level of financial protection to employees, particularly those in low-paid, precarious roles, who are unfit to work due to illness or injury but who do not have access to a company sick leave scheme.

The scheme provides employees with 70% of normal pay, up to €110 per day, for medically certified absences. Employees must have completed 13 weeks’ continuous service with the employer before availing of statutory sick leave. The employee must provide their employer with a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner and the certificate must state that the employee named is unfit to work due to their illness or injury.

My Department has no role in issuing medical certificates or the clinical assessment required to come to a determination of illness.