1074. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65633/26]

1075. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65634/26]

1076. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding research carried out by her Department into the benefits of paternity leave. [65638/26]

1077. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of the proposals of a campaign (details supplied) that is seeking an increase in the level of paternity leave available to fathers in Ireland. [65637/26]

1078. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a campaign seeking a statutory increase in paid paternity leave in Ireland (details supplied); if she will consider facilitating a meeting with this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65636/26]

1079. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the ongoing review into the merits of expanding the level of paid paternity leave available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65635/26]

1085. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to extend paid paternity leave, in light of the proven benefits of this leave. [65732/26]

1091. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has undertaken a comparative review of paternity leave entitlements available in Ireland and other EU Member States; the outcome of any such review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65791/26]

1092. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of extending paid paternity leave on child development, parental wellbeing, maternal recovery following childbirth and workforce participation; the findings of any such assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65790/26]

1093. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the research, analysis or reviews that have been undertaken by her Department within the past five years regarding the potential benefits of extending paid paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65789/26]

1094. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is currently considering proposals to increase the duration of statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement; if so, the changes under consideration and the timeframe for their implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65788/26]

1095. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement of two weeks; whether consideration is being given to increasing paid paternity leave to eight weeks; and whether any review, consultation, or comparative analysis of paternity leave arrangements in other EU member states has been undertaken. [65948/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1074, 1075, 1076, 1077, 1078, 1079, 1085, 1091, 1092, 1093, 1094 and 1095 together.

There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years.

The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave. Ireland's statutory paternity leave arrangements are fully aligned with the requirements of the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, which introduced a minimum standard for paternity leave across EU Member States. International comparisons show that arrangements vary across Europe, including up to 25 days in France, 10 working days in Italy and up to two weeks in the United Kingdom. Germany does not currently provide a dedicated statutory paid paternity leave entitlement, with parents instead availing of broader parental leave provisions.

Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are now entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent's Leave is an individual separate entitlement and is non-transferable between parents.

Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’. Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of caring responsibilities.

A key priority in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families (2019-2028) is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes.

Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.

The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy was published on the 5th August 2026 and includes actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. Any initiatives to boost the uptake of Paternity Leave will be considered within this context.