NWCI Position on Paternity Leave

Published: Tuesday, March 11, 2014

NWCI are in favour of

- Paternity or Partner Leave of 2 weeks with potential to rise to one month in the future. 
- This should be in addition to the existing 26 weeks Maternity Leave.
- We are also in favour of moving from the current entitlement of 18 weeks unpaid Parental Leave to 26 weeks paid Parental Leave. This could be introduced incrementally.

The three strand approach outlined above is recognised as best practice for both the child and parents.  This view is shared by our member organisations and is also reflected in the Government’s NESF report from 2005 and the recommendations made in 2013 by an expert group on Early Years Strategy for Minister Frances Fitzgerald.