02 May 2019 - Ireland plans to increase paid paternity leave by 2 weeks
Laois TD and Minister co-announces new parental leave scheme
(Leinster Express, 27/04/2019)
Laois TD and Minister Charlie Flanagan has co-announced a new parental leave scheme which it is claimed will allow some 60,000 parents new paid parental leave and benefit from this November.
Under the plan parents of new babies will have access to two weeks leave each – expected to rise to seven weeks each over the next three years. New legislation also aims to enable male same-sex couples to receive adoptive leave and benefit.
Parents in employment or self-employment will be able to avail of the new parental leave scheme. Ultimately, it is hoped that parents will be able to benefit from seven weeks leave each under the scheme as it develops incrementally over the next three years.
'Dads must take paternity leave or lose new benefit,' minister warns
Kevin Doyle (Herald, 23/04/2019)
In proposals published today up to parents 60,000 will be eligible from next autumn for two weeks' paid time off.
However, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty warned that Ireland needs "a proper conversation about the value of staying at home".
Figures show that about 60pc of men do not take the existing handouts.
Despite this she insisted the extra leave will be non-transferable - so each parent must "use it or lose it".
Paid parental leave will help end ‘taboo’ of dads at home
Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Political Correspondent (Irish Examiner, 23/04/2019)
Government plans to give new parents two weeks’ paid parental leave are needed to help end the “taboo” of fathers staying at home to mind their child, it has been claimed.
Regina Doherty, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, said the changes will have broad benefits for Irish society, but at the weekend, business groups claimed the time off will put financial pressure on businesses already struggling to stay afloat.
Under plans to be confirmed today, all new parents working for companies or for themselves will, from November, be given two weeks’ paid parental leave to spend with their babies in the 12 months after they are born.
New fathers must stop making excuses and take time off to be with children, says minister
Kevin Doyle (The Independent, 23/04/2019)
New fathers need to stop making excuses for not taking time off work to spend with their children, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has said.
The Government will today publish legislation which will give up to 60,000 parents the opportunity to take two weeks parental leave from November.
But Ms Doherty has warned Ireland needs to have "a proper conversation about the value of staying at home".
Figures already show around 60pc of men do not avail of existing paternity benefits.
Just making fathers take parental leave won’t solve much
Maeve McElwee (Irish Times, 02/05/2019)
Achieving greater gender balance and equality in the workforce has been a long-standing policy and economic priority. The proposed Parental Leave and Benefit Bill announced last week is a small step in the right direction in this regard.
The measure, which would introduce two additional weeks of parental leave benefit for both parents within the first 52 weeks, seeks to begin a rebalancing of the share of responsibility placed on women for the provision of childcare in our society.
The Bill, however, has not met with universal support including discordant reactions in terms of wages forgone by men taking the leave and of the costs to businesses associated with administration and absence of key employees.