Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on introducing paid paternity leave; the annual cost to the Exchequer of introducing a week's paid paternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Public sector employers provide 3 days paid paternity leave for civil servants, teachers, health service workers, Gardaí, prison officers and the Defence Forces, while some private sector employers and semi-state bodies provide a short period of paid paternity leave. There is currently no statutory entitlement to paternity leave.

The question of paid paternity leave was considered by the Working Group on the Review of the Parental Leave Act 1998, which reported in April 2002. The Working Group which comprised the social partners, relevant Government Departments and the Equality Authority, could not reach consensus on this issue. The employers' organisations could not agree to the introduction of a statutory entitlement to paternity leave paid for by employers.

I have no objection, in principle, to the introduction of a statutory entitlement to a short period of paid paternity leave. However, before doing so I think it desirable to secure consensus among the social partners on the issue. In this connection, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the commitment in the Partnership Agreement "Towards 2016" that the level of provision of maternity/paternity leave would be reviewed again before end 2008.

I am not in a position at this stage to estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of introducing a week's paid paternity leave since the cost would depend on the model involved, for example, whether it would be PRSI based, the take-up and whether it would be at full pay or whether there would be a contribution.