Menu
25/07/2019
New Bill Signed For Additional 4 Weeks Of Unpaid Parental Leave
A new Amendment to allow working parents to apply for an additional four weeks of unpaid parental leave has been signed by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan.
Signing the Commencement Order for the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, Minister Flanagan said: "The period of unpaid parental leave will be extended from the current entitlement of 18 weeks to 22 weeks from 1st September 2019. Further changes will come into place on 1st September 2020 when the unpaid parental leave entitlement will be extended to 26 weeks.
"The new measures allow any parent who has already availed of their current entitlement of 18 weeks to avail of a further eight weeks of parental leave. Parents can now apply to their employer for permission related to the first additional four weeks. The legislation also introduces an increase to the age of the child for which parental leave is available from 8 to 12 years. Both mothers and fathers may apply for this leave which I anticipate may be of particular benefit to parents that wish to take the unpaid leave when their children will be returning to school in September."
David Stanton, T.D., the Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration welcomed the commencement of the Act: "I was very pleased to work with Oireachtas Members on behalf of Government to enact and implement this legislation. This proposal for additional unpaid leave was made in a private members' bill sponsored by Deputies Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy. The Government continues to develop and extend its own proposals to extend paid parental leave entitlements. Later this year a new social insurance-based parental leave system will be available to parents providing two weeks of paid leave to both parents during the first year of a child's life. An estimated 60,000 parents a year are expected to gain from this change. This is in addition to the two weeks paid Paternity Leave for fathers which commenced in 2016 and which almost 70,000 fathers have applied to the scheme since its introduction. The Government will continue to support parents by providing greater flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance."
(MH/CM)
Signing the Commencement Order for the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, Minister Flanagan said: "The period of unpaid parental leave will be extended from the current entitlement of 18 weeks to 22 weeks from 1st September 2019. Further changes will come into place on 1st September 2020 when the unpaid parental leave entitlement will be extended to 26 weeks.
"The new measures allow any parent who has already availed of their current entitlement of 18 weeks to avail of a further eight weeks of parental leave. Parents can now apply to their employer for permission related to the first additional four weeks. The legislation also introduces an increase to the age of the child for which parental leave is available from 8 to 12 years. Both mothers and fathers may apply for this leave which I anticipate may be of particular benefit to parents that wish to take the unpaid leave when their children will be returning to school in September."
David Stanton, T.D., the Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration welcomed the commencement of the Act: "I was very pleased to work with Oireachtas Members on behalf of Government to enact and implement this legislation. This proposal for additional unpaid leave was made in a private members' bill sponsored by Deputies Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy. The Government continues to develop and extend its own proposals to extend paid parental leave entitlements. Later this year a new social insurance-based parental leave system will be available to parents providing two weeks of paid leave to both parents during the first year of a child's life. An estimated 60,000 parents a year are expected to gain from this change. This is in addition to the two weeks paid Paternity Leave for fathers which commenced in 2016 and which almost 70,000 fathers have applied to the scheme since its introduction. The Government will continue to support parents by providing greater flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance."
(MH/CM)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
15 July 2016
Lessons Must Be Learned From European Mistakes On Paternity Leave Law
Ireland must learn from European mistakes to ensure fathers take up the opportunities offered by the new paternity leave laws, Fine Gael Senator, Neale Richmond, has said. The Dublin Rathdown Senator made the comments during a Seanad debate on social protection.
Lessons Must Be Learned From European Mistakes On Paternity Leave Law
Ireland must learn from European mistakes to ensure fathers take up the opportunities offered by the new paternity leave laws, Fine Gael Senator, Neale Richmond, has said. The Dublin Rathdown Senator made the comments during a Seanad debate on social protection.
11 July 2013
New Bill Proposes Maternity Leave To Be Shared
A new law has been proposed that would allow parents of new born babies to share the mothers maternity leave. The Parental Leave Bill 2013 would allow mothers to transfer a portion of her maternity leave and its benefits to the father of the child, should she choose to go back to work.
New Bill Proposes Maternity Leave To Be Shared
A new law has been proposed that would allow parents of new born babies to share the mothers maternity leave. The Parental Leave Bill 2013 would allow mothers to transfer a portion of her maternity leave and its benefits to the father of the child, should she choose to go back to work.
18 March 2016
Increased Investment Needed For Affordable Childcare
Increased investment needed to create accessible, affordable and quality childcare, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said. The Congress has called for the introduction of new entry-level pay for childcare professionals at the Living Wage rate of €11.
Increased Investment Needed For Affordable Childcare
Increased investment needed to create accessible, affordable and quality childcare, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said. The Congress has called for the introduction of new entry-level pay for childcare professionals at the Living Wage rate of €11.
14 October 2015
Two Weeks Paid Paternity Leaves Announced In Budget
Two weeks of paid paternity leave are to be introduced under the newly announced Budget 2016. Welcoming the news, Minister of State Equality Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said: "I have always believed that a core part of the Equality Agenda needed to address the imbalance in paternity leave structures.
Two Weeks Paid Paternity Leaves Announced In Budget
Two weeks of paid paternity leave are to be introduced under the newly announced Budget 2016. Welcoming the news, Minister of State Equality Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said: "I have always believed that a core part of the Equality Agenda needed to address the imbalance in paternity leave structures.
20 June 2016
Govt Publish New Paternity Bill
The government have marked Father's Day with the publication of the Paternity Bill, which will provide fathers with two weeks of paternity leave and two weeks of paternity benefit. The Bill was announced on Sunday, 19 June by the Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald.
Govt Publish New Paternity Bill
The government have marked Father's Day with the publication of the Paternity Bill, which will provide fathers with two weeks of paternity leave and two weeks of paternity benefit. The Bill was announced on Sunday, 19 June by the Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Scattered showers at first, but these will gradually die out through the evening. Cloudy but mainly dry through the night, with the chance some showers in the south and west. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
