Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is amended -

(a) by substituting the following for paragraph 5:

"5. Where an employee's period of service has been interrupted by any one of the following -

(a) any period by reason of -

(i) sickness,

(ii) lay-off,

(iii) holidays,

(iv) service by the employee in the Reserve Defence Forces of the State,

(v) any cause (other than the voluntary leaving of the employment concerned by the employee) not mentioned in clauses (i) to (iv) but authorised by the employer,

(b) a period during which an adopting parent was absent from work while on adoptive leave or additional adoptive leave under the Adoptive Leave Act 1995,

(c) a period during which an employee was absent from work while on -

(i) additional maternity leave, protective leave or natal care absence within the meaning of the Maternity Protection Act 1994,

(ii) parental leave or force majeure leave within the meaning of the Parental Leave Act 1998, or

(iii) carer's leave within the meaning of the Carer's Leave Act 2001,