NWCI welcomes the introduction of paid paternity leave

Published: Saturday, February 13, 2016

The National Women’s Council of Ireland has welcomed the  introduction of two weeks’ paid paternity leave, as crucial step toward bring Ireland in line with family leave best practice across Europe.  However, NWCI cautioned that paternity leave must be part of a wider approach to organise leave and tackle the childcare crisis in Ireland.

The introduction of two weeks paid paternity leave is a welcome step, and something which NWCI, alongside Start Strong and the Irish congress of Trade Unions have campaigned on for many years. Legislating for paternity leave is a long overdue recognition of the role of fathers, as well as the fact that care responsibilities need to be shared more equally between women and men.

However, it is disappointing that no period of paid leave was introduced, to allow families in Ireland to make choices with regard to balancing work and family life in way that suits their needs. As it stands, Ireland is the only EU member state that provides no period of well-paid leave. It also must be noted that this Government has failed to tackle the enormous issue of affordability of childcare which continues to be one of the biggest barriers to women’s participation in the workforce and civic life in Ireland. Childcare costs in Ireland as a percentage of wages are the highest in the EU, and it is a massive election issue.

Political parties are currently committing to make Early Years care and education a priority – we need to see widespread commitment to the implementation of a Scandinavian childcare model.

For the full press release, please see here.