Press Release: Bacik Calls for Right to Paternity Leave for Men

BACIK CALLS FOR RIGHT TO PATERNITY LEAVE FOR MEN
Senator Ivana Bacik

Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
8th March 2010

Speaking today at a Dublin Book Festival event on the subject ‘Legacies of Feminism', Senator Ivana Bacik will call for a change in the law to enable male employees to take paid paternity leave.

Outlining the many ways in which women continue to face discrimination, in the law, the workplace and in society generally, Senator Bacik noted that because of the gender pay-gap - the disparity in earnings between men and women - it usually costs more for a father to give up work to care for a child. Even though a right to unpaid parental leave exists for both parents, men are much less likely to take this leave.

Calling for a change in the law, Senator Bacik said:

“The State must give fathers recognition in the workplace – by legislating for the right to take even a few weeks' paid paternity leave. It is most unfair on men, women and children that the parenting responsibilities of fathers specifically are not given any legal acknowledgement in their employment. In practice, men have to take holiday leave or unpaid leave if they wish to be at home for the birth of their child or to help their partner in the weeks after the birth. Paid paternity leave must be introduced here, as it has been in Britain, to reflect the reality that mothers do not have sole responsibility for parenting. In my view, support for paid paternity leave must be an integral part of any feminist agenda.”

ENDS