David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to the recent findings of the survey of work-life balance (details supplied), his views on the fact that 86.1% of the people surveyed believed that paternity leave should be a legal entitlement and that approximately 60% felt that all paternity leave should be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3551/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While there is no statutory entitlement to paternity leave, many employers in both the public and private sectors have arrangements in place providing short periods of paid paternity leave.

Paternity leave was considered in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a working group chaired by my Department. The working group comprised the social partners, relevant Departments and the Equality Authority. The report of the working group on the review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 was published on 29 April 2002.

Paternity leave was considered by the working group, taking into account the following issues: the reconciliation of work and family life and balanced participation of men and women in work and family life; the cost to employers; and the comparative situation in other EU member states.

While acknowledging that a statutory arrangement to provide an entitlement to time off for fathers at the time of childbirth would enhance arrangements for the reconciliation of work and family life, the working group could not reach consensus on the issue.

Subsequently, no agreement was reached on paternity leave by the social partners in the context of the negotiations on the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement. In the absence of a consensus among the social partners, the Government does not propose to provide for a statutory entitlement to paternity leave.