Proposals for twenty weeks’ paid maternity

NEW mothers would be entitled to 20 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay and fathers would have two weeks’ paid leave under proposals passed by the European Parliament.

The issue was hotly contested, with Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly warning that in the economic climate it was not practical and young women would suffer.

However, another Irish MEP, Joe Higgins, said the new legislation was needed more than ever now as young women faced discrimination and exploitation in the workforce.