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Representation in Ireland
News article19 April 2023Representation in Ireland

European Commission calls on Ireland to fully transpose EU rules on work-life balance for parents and carers and on roadside inspections

The European Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to Ireland (INFR(2022)0370) and 10 other Member States for failing to notify national measures fully transposing EU rights on Work-Life Balance for parents & carers (Directive (EU) 2019/115).

Statue of Lady Justice holding scales

The Directive aims to foster equal participation of men and women in labour market, by encouraging equal sharing of care responsibilities between parents. It ensures that fathers have the right to take at least ten working days of paternity leave around the time of birth of the child. The Directive also establishes a minimum of four months of parental leave, with at least two out of the four months paid and non-transferable from one parent to another. It establishes five working days per year of carers' leave for workers providing personal care or support to a relative or person living in the same household. In addition, it gives all carers and working parents of children up to eight years old the right to request flexible working arrangements. 

The transposition deadline for the Directive was 2 August 2022. On 21 September 2022, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to 19 Member States for failing to communicate measures to transpose this Directive. After having analysed their replies, the Commission found that the Directive is still not fully transposed in 11 Member States, and therefore decided to take a further step in the infringement procedures by sending a reasoned opinion to Belgium, Czechia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Austria and Slovenia. Member States now have two months to take the necessary measures to comply with the reasoned opinion. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Directive aims to foster equal participation of men and women in labour market, by encouraging equal sharing of care responsibilities between parents. It ensures that fathers have the right to take at least ten working days of paternity leave around the time of birth of the child. The Directive also establishes a minimum of four months of parental leave, with at least two out of the four months paid and non-transferable from one parent to another. It establishes five working days per year of carers' leave for workers providing personal care or support to a relative or person living in the same household. In addition, it gives all carers and working parents of children up to eight years old the right to request flexible working arrangements.


The transposition deadline for the Directive was 2 August 2022. On 21 September 2022, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to 19 Member States for failing to communicate measures to transpose this Directive. After having analysed their replies, the Commission found that the Directive is still not fully transposed in 11 Member States, and therefore decided to take a further step in the infringement procedures by sending a reasoned opinion to Belgium, Czechia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Austria and Slovenia. Member States now have two months to take the necessary measures to comply with the reasoned opinion. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.


The European Commission also decided to send a reasoned opinion to Ireland (INFR(2022)0425) and 3 other Member States for failing to notify the Commission of national measures transposing Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1716). This Directive updates technical requirements for roadside inspections, notably the categories of high speed tractors subject to roadside inspections. The Directive aims to improve road safety by ensuring the roadworthiness of heavy commercial vehicles used on public roads.

The deadline to transpose the Directive into national law was 27 September 2022. In November 2022, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to all four Member States. Having analysed their replies and as they have still not notified the national measures transposing the Directive, the Commission has decided to issue a reasoned opinion to Bulgaria, Ireland, Luxembourg and Austria. The Member States now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

More information:


April Infringements package: key decisions

Details

Publication date
19 April 2023
Author
Representation in Ireland