THE government in the Republic will today agree to legislate to allow fathers to take two weeks of paid paternal leave.
Justice minister Frances Fitzgerald will bring a memo to the cabinet with the support of Tánaiste Joan Burton confirming commitments made in the budget.
Statutory paternity leave will be paid at a rate of €230 a week (£176), the same as maternity benefit.
The legislation will also allow fathers to take the leave at any stage within 26 weeks of the birth.
Until now, the Republic has been behind most European countries in excluding paternity leave from employment law.
New fathers tended to use days from their annual leave, but this could be granted or denied at their employer's discretion.
But from September fathers will be able to apply for two weeks' paid paternity leave following the birth of their child.
The Labour Party has also proposed introducing three months' parental leave if re-elected. It would be in addition to paternity and maternity leave, and could be split between the two parents.
