ISME reject proposals to introduce paid paternity leave

The Irish small and medium-sized enterprise organisation is calling on its members to reject proposals to introduce paid paternity leave.

The Dept of Justice has recommended that paid paternity leave should be introduced into Irish Industry.

ISME says it would cost its members €12m annually. Mark Fielding, Chief Executive of ISME, says his members are only objecting to the cost of paternity leave.

"From a small business perspective that is unsustainable. If you add that on to the rising cost of insurance and the rising cost of energy projected to go up another 15%, labour costs at the moment are rising anyway.

"It is putting considerable pressure to have to pay another €12m out for paternity leave."