Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she examined the possibility of introducing paid paternity leave; if she has discussed with the Department of Justice and Equality the possibility of introducing paid paternity leave. [33248/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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While male employees are not entitled under law to either paid or unpaid paternity leave, they may be entitled to parental leave. Parental leave entitles parents who qualify to take a period of up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave from employment, generally in respect of children aged up to eight years. While there is no provision for a social insurance based payment for periods of parental leave, employees may be entitled to credited contributions to maintain their social insurance record for the period.

The introduction of paid parental leave, or paternity leave, would have significant cost implications for employers, the Exchequer and the social insurance fund. In addition, introducing a paternity benefit payment would depend on establishing an underlying entitlement to statutory paternity leave in the first instance and would require legislation on the part of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The potential for introducing paternity leave was formally considered in the review of the Parental Leave Act, published in 2002, but the working group concerned did not reach a consensus. Similarly, a working group set up under the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, examined the provision of support in this area but did not identify an agreed way forward.

The Department is also in regular contact with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding issues on maternity, adoptive and health and safety leave. In these ongoing contacts general issues regarding the provision of supports for fathers are discussed. In this context, the potential for development of the already substantial supports provided for parents are kept under review.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This issue has been examined as far back as 2002 and in the Towards 2016 report.

Has there been any recent working group? Will the Minister set up another working group to look at this aspect of leave? Other countries have managed to put a system of paid parental leave in place, which is ahead of where we are in Ireland. When will the working group examine the issue rather than just ticking it off from a list of matters at every meeting?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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About 23,000 women take maternity leave every year. If it were available, it is estimated that half of all fathers would take some paternity leave. I favour the idea in principle. The cost of maternity leave is about €300 million. The difficulty with previous working groups was agreeing how such leave would be provided for and who would pay for it. There would have to be an agreed system of payment if it were to be brought in. However, one alternative for fathers in some occupations is to take the unpaid parental leave obligation. I am aware that a number of employers currently have de facto arrangements and pay fathers up to three days' leave on the birth of a baby. I know the Deputy's question refers to a wider provision, but that would have to be funded. We could look at that issue again in the future. With the current state of the economy, it might be difficult to fund it. An argument was made before that employers should fund it, but they had an issue with that in the past.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister mentioned the current position whereby many employers provide three days' pay for paternal leave, but that is not mandatory. Has there been any discussion on moving towards an interim measure between full parental leave and a temporary three days' paid leave?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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That is a de facto arrangement with employers, rather than a universal legislative arrangement, and it varies from employer to employer. If we were to change the system, there would be very significant issues of administration. None the less, especially as the economy recovers over time, it might be something we would consider as a socially progressive measure that would give more recognition to the role of fathers. My colleagues from Scandinavia find that the provision of paternity leave underscores for employers the fact that babies have two parents and that their obligations and commitments to bringing up their children ought to be recognised.