Has Minister Varadkar rowed back on paternity leave for September Dads?
Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has asked Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar to clarify when the new paternity leave scheme will come into force.
Senator Humphreys said “The previous Labour –Fine Gael government introduced two weeks paid paternity leave for the first time under Budget 2016. It was expected to come into force in September and most expectant couples who were due to give birth in September were looking forward to availing of this important new benefit.
“Although the FG-Independents government has been extremely slow in introducing the necessary legislation to implement the scheme, Minister Vardakar recently told Newstalk radio station that the new paternity benefit scheme will come into effect from September 1st.
“Disappointingly, Minister Varadkar appears to have rolled back on that September commitment.
“In a PQ response this week he said that “a Government decision was made that the paternity leave and paternity benefit scheme would come into effect on 30th September 2016. As a result, paternity benefit will only be payable for a child born or placed on or after the 30thSeptember 2016.”
“Dads who are due their new baby in September will be very disappointed if Minister Varadkar has now pushed the start date of the new scheme out until the very last day of September.
“The Minister must now urgently clarify when paid paternity benefit leave will start and when Dads across the country can look forward to accessing this vital paternal leave.”