Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will bring forward legislation to introduce statutory paternity leave; the date from which he expects the leave to be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12143/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As announced in Budget 2016, the outgoing Government approved the introduction of two weeks of paternity leave and the associated social welfare paternity benefit as from September 2016. The Government has approved the General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to this decision and the Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Government expects to publish the Bill shortly.

The introduction of paternity leave and the achievement of the target date proposed is of course subject to agreement by the Oireachtas to adopt the necessary legislation.