Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I support Senator McFadden's amendment on paternity leave, an issue on which I have spoken previously in this House. There is a real need to consider introducing paternity leave. The Minister spoke yesterday about changes to parental leave but paternity leave should be regarded as something different from parental leave because parental leave is an entitlement for both parents. Paid paternity leave is important and if we were to introduce it, it would underline our commitment to recognising the role of fathers in the workplace, give fathers a stand-alone right, in respect of their right to parental leave, to take paid leave from the workplace, and send out an important message about gender equality. On a day when a conference on gender equality is taking place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham highlighting the ongoing disparities between men and women in the workplace, it is important that we consider taking steps to try to address this issue, and paid paternity leave would be a huge step towards that.

We should also look to our neighbouring jurisdiction, Britain, where paid paternity leave has been introduced. Tony Blair was one of the more high profile people who took it up. Britain introduced paid paternity leave for a period of two weeks, which does not come anywhere near the period for paid maternity leave and benefit but is a step in the right direction, and we should examine the possibility of introducing something similar in this country.