Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the statutory situation with regard to paternity leave; if the Government has any plans to introduce paternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35411/10]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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There is currently no statutory provision for paternity leave. My Department, in consultation with the social partners, is examining the issue of paternity leave as part of a review of maternity, parental and paternity leave as promised in 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 made up of representatives of the social partners and relevant State bodies, as part of the review of the Parental Leave Act, 1998. The working group could not reach a consensus on the issue.