Fathers appeal to equality watchdog on paternity leave

A SIGNIFICANT number of new fathers who called the Equality Authority last year were bitterly disappointed to learn they were not entitled to paid paternity leave.

There is no legal entitlement to paternity leave in Ireland, which is at the employer’s discretion.

Ireland has maternity, parental and adoptive leave but, as yet, has no statutory paid paternity leave at the time of a child’s birth.