Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to examine the possibility of introducing paternity benefit. [20362/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is examining the issue of paternity benefit as part of a review of maternity, parental and paternity leave as promised in the Agreed Programme for Government and the Social Partnership agreement "Towards 2016". The issue of the introduction of a statutory entitlement to paternity leave was examined before, in 2002, by a working group, as part of the Review of the Parental Leave Act, 1998. The Working Group could not reach consensus on the issue.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to examine the possibility of shared parental leave. [20363/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 contains a provision whereby parents employed by the same employer may transfer all or part of their parental leave to the other relevant parent, subject to the employer's agreement. This Bill is currently awaiting Committee Stage in the Seanad. A wider examination of the issue of shared parental leave will be undertaken as part of the ongoing review of leaves such as maternity, parental and paternity as promised both in the Agreed Programme for Government and the Social Partnership agreement "Towards 2016".