Women's Council calls for leave payment

A system of paid leave should be introduced in Ireland to facilitate parents on low incomes who can't afford to take time off work without pay, according to the National Women's Council.

Spokeswoman for the council, Orla O’Connor, said that the Government needs to facilitate people trying to combine caring for children with jobs.

Currently, parents of children aged four and under can take up to 14 weeks leave but without pay, whereas most EU countries offer a system of paid leave.