Changes to legislation: as of 3 September 2024, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Maternity Protection Act 1994. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), enacted 5 July 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Maternity Protection (Protection of Mothers who are Breastfeeding) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 342 of 2023), made 29 June 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to
Number 34 of 1994
MATERNITY PROTECTION ACT 1994
Updated to 3 July 2023
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Leave to Protect Health and Safety of Pregnant Employees, etc.
Disapplication of sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 to member of local authority.
Resolution of Disputes
Decision under section 41 or 44 of Workplace Relations Act 2015.
Amendments and Application of Other Enactments
Number 34 of 1994
MATERNITY PROTECTION ACT 1994
Updated to 3 July 2023
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/85/EEC OF 19 OCTOBER 1992 ON THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK OF PREGNANT WORKERS AND WORKERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH OR ARE BREASTFEEDING, TO REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS THE PROVISIONS OF THE MATERNITY PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES ACTS, 1981 AND 1991, TO ENTITLE A MALE EMPLOYEE TO LEAVE IN CERTAIN CASES WHERE THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD DIES, TO EXTEND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROVISIONS THE PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR DISMISSALS CONFERRED BY THE UNFAIR DISMISSALS ACT, 1977, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [27th December, 1994]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
Functions transferred and references construed (14.10.2020) by Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 436 of 2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (3) and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
Note change of name of Department and title of Minister to Department of and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth made (15.10.2020) by Children and Youth Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 437 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2).
2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
(2) References to the Department of Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Justice and Equality -
(a) by or under the enactments specified in Schedule 1, and
are transferred to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
(3) References to the Minister for Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made under such Act, and relating to any functions transferred by this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
Enactments, functions by or under which are transferred from the Minister for Justice and Equality to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004
Editorial Notes:
Collectively cited Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 included in definitions of “employment enactment” and “relevant enactment” (1.08.2015) by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 2 and sch. 1 part 1 item 11, S.I. No. 338 of 2015, with the following effects:
• Authorised officers or inspectors under employment enactments deemed to be appointed under Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 26(2) and subject to termination under s. 26(4).
• Powers of inspectors for purposes of relevant enactments defined in Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 27.
• Workplace Relations Commission, an inspector or an adjudication officer authorised to disclose employer’s registered number or employee’s PPSN to enable Labour Court to perform functions under relevant enactments by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015) s. 31(5).
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and official body to disclose information to each other concerning the commission of offence under relevant enactment provided by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 32.
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and contracting authority to disclose information to each other concerning the commission of offence under employment enactment/ relevant enactment provided by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 33.
• Powers of Minister to prosecute under relevant enactments transferred to Workplace Relations Commission and references construed by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 37.
• Functions of EAT to hear claims under employment enactments transferred to Workplace Relations Commission and references to EAT construed by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015) s. 66(1), (2), not commenced as of date of revision.
Previous affecting provision: functions transferred and terms “Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs” and “Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs” construed (1.04.2011) by Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 139 of 2011), arts. 2, 3 and sch., subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8. Name of Minister and Department changed to Children and Youth Affairs and references construed (2.06.2011) by Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 214 of 2011), in effect as per art. 1(2); superseded as per C-note above.
Previous affecting provision: functions transferred and terms “Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform” and “Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform” construed as Department of/Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (1.06.2010) by Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 217 of 2010), arts. 2-3 and sch., subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8. Name of Minister and Department changed to Justice and Law Reform and references construed (2.06.2010) by Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 216 of 2010); superseded as per E-note above.
Previous affecting provision: functions transferred and terms “Department of Equality and Law Reform” and “Minister for Equality and Law Reform” construed as Department of and Minister for Justice (8.07.1997) by Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 297 of 1997), arts. 2-4 and sch., subject to transitional provisions in arts. 5-9. Name of Department and Minister changed to Justice, Equality and Law Reform (9.07.1997) by Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 298 of 1997); superseded as per E-note above.