As reported on the Journal yesterday the Government debated a bill proposed by Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White, which would allow the father of a newborn baby to share in the 26 weeks maternity leave currently given to women under Irish law. Under the bill, titled the ‘Parental Leave Bill 2013,’ a woman would be allowed to transfer a portion of her maternity leave and benefits to the father of the child.
Under current law, only parents who work for the same company can request to share their leave. During the Seanad debate, Senator White said that the responsibility for child rearing in Ireland rests “almost entirely with women” and that the proposed legislation would offer fathers a “more hands-on opportunity” after the birth of a child. The bill is part of a Fianna Fáil strategy aimed at promoting women entrepreneurs in an effort to create jobs.
Flexibility in the parental leave system would allow women to devote more time to their enterprises while knowing that their partner could be at home with the newborn child, White said.
