Leo Varadka urges businesses to pay full salaries in paternity leave

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has appealed to employers to top up payments for fathers taking paternity leave from September, saying businesses should pay full salary levels.

An information campaign has been launched for the new two-week leave. It will guarantee new fathers two weeks’ leave and basic statutory welfare payments.

However, new dads will also need to have a public service card to apply for the leave, due to a demand by the Department of Social Protection to ensure the new system is fully operational online.