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Parental leave extended from 14 weeks to 18 weeks

Parents returning back to work from parental leave will also be allowed to request a change in their working hours or pattern.

PARENTAL LEAVE IN Ireland has been extended from 14 weeks to 18 weeks.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Mr Alan Shatter, TD, today signed regulations extending the leave, which gives effect to a EU Council Directive which implements a revised framework agreement on parental leave concluded by the European Social Partners.

The Minister commented:

It is important that we support parents of young children in the difficult balancing act of caring for a young family and working.

Under the regulations, parents returning from back to work from parental leave will also be allowed to request a change in their working hours or pattern. Although employers must consider such a request, they are not required to grant it.

Minister Shatter said that he is firmly of the belief that supports such as parental leave “are very important because they give mothers and fathers an equal role in the caring of children”.

This is important on many levels, not least in breaking down stereotypes about child care. I also hope that it will encourage and enable working women to remain in the workforce after they have children.

These new regulations apply to all children who currently qualify for parental leave – children under 8 years of age, or in the case of child with a disability or long term illness, under 16 years of age.

Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave.

Read: Childcare costs leave parents struggling to pay household bills>

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73 Comments
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    Mute Valerie Gaynor
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:19 PM

    Now to convince the boss to change the work pattern. You can ask but they don’t have to give it to you? Why do we need legislation for that?

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    Mute James Mark Donnelly
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:48 AM

    They have to give a valid reason now. I think its the same in the UK. They have to give you a written explanation as to why they refuse it. So you can always take it further if you think they are just being awkward. In other words, they have to consider it, and not just say ‘No, we don’t do that’. Its a big step forward tbh’. It’ll probably have some teething problems as bosses get used to it. I’d say after too long though, they’ll 1) Realise being flexible with parents doesn’t actually mean they lose anything, 2) Raises morale and 3) They’ll realise that the appeals process is too much hassle for them, as there are rarely valid reasons to being inflexible. So once the parent is being reasonable in their request, the boss will play ball, or at least negotiate a solution.
    A step in the right direction anyway.

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    Mute jrbmc
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:23 PM

    Amazing to extend it when nobody can afford to stay out for 18 weeks

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    Mute voice of raisin
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    Mar 9th 2013, 12:27 AM

    It could be a day a week over several months if your employer agrees, which might be more manageable.

    Just because everyone can’t afford it doesn’t mean that the option shouldn’t be there.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 9th 2013, 2:09 AM

    Really if your paying 50% tax, inpaid leave doesn’t affect you to bad as you’ll get it back later in the year

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    Mute Joseph O Reilly
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:20 PM

    Wow shatter supports unpaid leave .. Really !!

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    Mute John Scott
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:59 PM

    well isn’t that nice of Alan. wonder does he also support a cut in child allowance?.

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    Mute Aodhan O Cuana
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:34 PM

    These guys haven’t a clue; let’s go all Nordic and give fathers a fill month off on full pay and then let’s talk about the unpaid 14 week paternity leave.

    Most politicians and high level civil servants will get he full entitlement. I am a social worker and I got 3 days leave. There I am assessing people for parenting capacity and my own employer doesn’t expect my own parenting needs and time with the kids.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:11 PM

    But Aodhan…there’s no money in the country…who’ll pay the politicians wages and their pensions if we pay this. Stop making sense man!!!!

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:50 AM

    A bit of a joke, Women extended up to 18 weeks, men extended up to 0.

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    Mute Suzie O'Riordan
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:59 AM

    Men and women have equal entitlement to parental leave.

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    Mute susan_lanigan
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:09 AM

    But men may well need a bit of persuasion to take it, Suzie. I know men who would love to do that. I also suspect that in quite a few cases, the “persuasion” might involve a bit of legal force.

    As long as women have generous leave – as long as it’s called “maternity” leave – unfortunately it affects the earning power and career progress and parenthood will hold women back far more than men.

    And given that many men appear genuinely enthusiastic about taking more parental leave – well let’s do like they do in Norway and force leave to be split, and then see what happens.

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:12 AM

    My bad I mixed up with maternity leave/benefit. Still though no Maternity Benefit for Fathers has not changed.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:52 AM

    Let’s go all Nordic and raise the taxes to their level to pay for it.

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    Mute ronan califf
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    Mar 9th 2013, 12:38 AM

    Jaysus, people complain when something isnt there and then complain when it is. If you can afford parental leave its good new. If you cant then dont cry about it. Dont be bitter people.

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    Mute James Mark Donnelly
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:55 AM

    To be fair, they are now taxing maternity benefit etc. This impacts severely on families on low/middle incomes. In fact, it used it used to be possible for those who in normal circumstances could not afford unpaid leave, to save for unpaid leave. So while the extended unpaid leave and the onus on bosses to be flexible is very much welcomed, there is also a bit of a class issue going on.

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    Mute Tony Kavanagh
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:27 PM

    Sorry, I’m still not getting knocked up. It’d take me forever to get me figure back.

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    Mute marie turk
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:01 PM

    @seamus you’re not paid for parental leave. you muppet

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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 9th 2013, 2:13 AM

    It balances itself out as you pay less tax as you earn less, I did the sums and if I work 20% less I end up within only 15% less

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    Mute aurilton
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:39 PM

    And how does Minister Shatter propose to support parents who are frontline line workers??

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    Mute Cormác Ó Ciaragáin
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:06 AM

    If you take 1 day off a week, it’s 1/5th of your wages gone… But after tax it’s more like 1/8th. Spending more time with your kids when they’re young and avoiding high childcare costs vs. going to work and having a small dent taken of your wages. I know which one I prefer. :-)

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    Mute siobeli
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    Mar 9th 2013, 11:25 AM

    I take one day parental leave a week, save only €80 per month on crèche :(. In most crèches there is very little diff between 4 day week compared to 5

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    Mute Olive Sharp
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:26 PM

    Doesn’t matter if Shatter extends the parental leave to 26 weeks most of us couldn’t afford to take 1 day of unpaid leave so its irrelevant …

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    Mute John Scott
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:01 PM

    u are prob so so right

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    Mute Gerry Malone
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    Mar 9th 2013, 12:26 AM

    It is the implementation of a EU directive and applies to all workers whether they work in the Public / Private Sector ..ie all employments. There is no cost to the State as parents who avail of this are not paid and are not entitled to claim from Social Welfare! Get your facts right before you turn this into a Public Service bashing debate!

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    Mute Siobhan Feely
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:19 PM

    I work full time, partner in “construction” so recession hit – We have three kids, aged 8, 6 & 4, I have taken 2 weeks of this unpaid parental leave entitlement during summer 2006, this extension means nothing to me as UNPAID cannot afford to take any more of it end off :(

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    Mute Linda Keating
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    Mar 9th 2013, 12:21 AM

    Sometimes its so expensive to pay full childcareduring summer when kids are off school. I took 9 weeks unpaid last summer and I was 188e worse off than if I had worked those 9 weeks and had to pay childcare, sometimes I wonder why I bother

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    Mute Paul Doyle
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:16 PM

    Any wonder bosses predate to hire men !!!!
    I’m joking, ha ha

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:23 PM

    What? ‘Predate’??
    And men can take parental leave too Paul or didnt you bother? Were you too much of a man to stay home with your kid?

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:23 PM

    But you’re not funny.

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    Mute sluazcanal
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:29 PM

    In fairness paul, leslie is right. You are not funny.

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    Mute Paul Doyle
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:30 PM

    Ah no I agree with Leslie, it’s the other muppet I disagree with

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:49 PM

    Good man Paul.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:17 PM

    Says he, half laughing, whole in earnest! And predate makes no sense.

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    Mute Valerie Gaynor
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:22 PM

    Yes I remember my 10 weeks maternity leave and then trying to get back to work and there were no creches. What has changed? Can’t afford the creches and this is after major investment to create 50,000 child care spaces that are no longer needed.parental leave is a joke, it is lip service legislation.

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    Mute Mary Osborne
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:04 PM

    Try taking it in a general context. You will note an improvement over time. 20 yrs. ago those in the public sector got 8 wks. leave post birth. No provision for fathers. If you were employed on a temporary basis you didn’t even get the 8 wks. It may seem a long time ago to new parent but there are many out there who lived under this system, are now struggling with post primary and college costs yet still have children at primary school. Do not bleed the system dry at an early stage as it takes over 20 yrs to get a child to a modicum of independance. If you cannot manage forbearance try reciprocal altruism. Enjoy the babies!

    49
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    Mute Maria
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:42 AM

    I don’t understand?

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    Mute Scooper111
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:01 PM

    Pretty pointless….
    No obligation on the employer to grant it, so what has changed by towing the EU line???

    You can ask for a longer spell of unpaid leave, which your employer can still decline (after polite consideration, of course) whoop dee doo. That will be a massive benefit to…… Eh no-one, or am I missing something obvious here?

    I’m presuming this Europe ass kissing work, wasn’t done pro bono either… Good use of taxpayers money or not…. Now let me see…. Shocker. Waste of time and money

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    Mute voice of raisin
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    Mar 9th 2013, 12:30 AM

    You read it wrong. The length of the leave is mandatory. Whether your employer allows you to take it in a block/day a week/work every second week etc is up to them.

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    Mute Scooper111
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    Mar 9th 2013, 11:58 AM

    the length of the leave is NOT mandatory Raisin, one does not HAVE to take 18 weeks. You could take 12 weeks only if you wanted….. It’s not really what I was saying anyway. What I was getting at is the pointlessness of legislating for this, to get in line with EU ruling…. Futile

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    Mute Sean Walsh
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    Mar 9th 2013, 1:51 AM

    What about paternity leave ? Only EU country not to give anything.

    41
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    Mute Gary Walsh-Green
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    Mar 9th 2013, 7:23 AM

    @Sean..I agree, you would think that a mother would even have the option to gift a portion (couple of weeks even) of her maternity leave to the father. This would have no extra state cost but is still a long way off what should he done.

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    Mute Seamus McGinty
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:58 PM

    There will be a baby boom within the public sector now.
    More free holidays yippee.

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    Mute Jean Keegan
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:01 PM

    Free holidays??? Last time I checked parental leave was unpaid leave something we take at our own expense!!

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    Mute aurilton
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:19 PM

    Aaah Seamus don’t forget the maternity leave is now taxed and there are proposes to tax Children’s Allowance. Sure the government just doesn’t want or can’t support any more children. Such a contrast to Australia where there’s a maternity grant!

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    Mute Maria
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:46 AM

    Oh yes, of course. I’m a public sector worker and I just can’t wait to have another baby just so I can take UNPAID leave, bring even less money into the household along with the costs of having another mouth to feed. Not to mention, the emotional and physical costs. Yes, it would make such sense!

    I have never been able to afford to take one day of parental leave and probably never will .

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    Am
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    Mute Am
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    Mar 9th 2013, 6:59 AM

    have five wonderful ladies in my business. only one taking this leave. has an overpaid public sector husband. she would agree with me by the way as she sees huge public private divide on pay and benefits. affordability is key.

    i believe govt should pay for such leave, on condition employer takes on someone for cover. simple job creation scheme and self funding from tax.

    as an employer it does mess up workflow and efficiency, but thats what kids do to life anyway.

    my gripe with this is ongoing holiday and public holiday pay entitlement. after nearly a year off my lady gets six paid weeks with no work output for me. it means in my tight business that my home mortgage will be further in arrears. f u mr shatter.

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    Mute Anthony O Donnell
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:20 AM

    The Gov should pay ? The gov has no money its the taxpayer who pays , there is no such thing as Government money its ours .

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    Mute Benny benson
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:42 PM

    At last shatter does something sensible. Good news

    30
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    Mute Georgina Ringrose
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    Mar 9th 2013, 7:21 AM

    Mixed messages from the government here – say they support families by extending unpaid parental leave in the same year that they introduce tax on maternity benefit?

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    Mute Barry Ringwood
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:04 AM

    “Both parents have an equal entitlement to parental leave…”

    Not if either one or both of them are self employed they dont!!

    I’m really startin to feel that this goverment must think every one wit the ability to work for them selves is a millionaire already.

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    Mute Deepee
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:17 AM

    Totally agree. I’m self employed and couldn’t afford to take the full maternity leave, parental leave wasn’t ever an option for me. Very unfair

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    Mute Martina Mc Carthy
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    Mar 9th 2013, 7:28 AM

    My ex employer wouldnt give me parental leave for a day a week or even one week alone.they would only give it in blocks of 5 weeks at a time then another 5 at a time then 4weeks shame on them all they tried to make it as awkward as possible so yu wouldnt take it

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    Mute abunchofcliches
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    Mar 9th 2013, 3:19 PM

    That’s unfortunate Martina but the way in which you are allowed take your parental leave is entirely at the discretion of the company. They have no obligation to grant it for a day a week or a week at a time if they don’t want to.

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    Mute Ciara Moloney
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:36 PM
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    Mute theantilooter
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:34 PM

    Civil servants get it for kids up to 13.

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    Mute Sinead Galvin
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:33 PM

    Is it not for children over 13. Was this not changed a few years ago!

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    Mute Sinead Galvin
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    Mar 8th 2013, 10:34 PM

    Sorry meant under 13 years of age.

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    Mute theantilooter
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    Mar 8th 2013, 11:33 PM

    Only for public and civil servants up to 13 for everyone else its 8. They changed it when brought in shorter working year scheme.

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    Mute Kevin Hosford
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:28 AM

    “Although employers must consider such a request, they are not required to grant it” That’s just another way of saying “you can ask but they’re not legally required to care”

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    Mute Anthony O Donnell
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:17 AM

    Private sector employers are at breaking point does anyone actually understand, I would be laughed out of the building if I asked for a change in hours.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 9th 2013, 2:07 AM

    Only really applies to public sector workers

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    Mute Valerie Gaynor
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    Mar 9th 2013, 2:41 AM

    Eh it doesn’t only apply to public sector workers!

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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:40 AM

    Valerie, the private sector don’t have excess staff so its quite hard to get any time off. If the company can manage with out an employee for a 18 weeks then to be honest they will probably be culled as there is no real need for them in the company .

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    Mute Steve Hehir
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:36 AM

    Great idea..i just dont know how people can afford it, as far as im aware you take it at your own expense!!

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    Mute Chris Boyd
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    Mar 9th 2013, 8:35 AM

    “Although employers must consider such a request, they are not required to grant it.” So basically it doesn’t give parents anything!

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    Mute James Mark Donnelly
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    Mar 9th 2013, 9:09 AM

    I know it looks that way, but in reality, the fact that they have to give you a written reason for refusing it means a lot. You can appeal it, and take it further etc. No boss wants an employment tribunal etc. It does mean that there is an onus on a boss to be flexible and not to be an @ss about things. Saying that they MUST allow a parent dictate is much too open to abuse, so they do it like this to prevent such things IMO.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:54 AM

    Who’s going to cover the workload of the people on leave? Oh, yeah, the suckers who can’t take the leave, especially when there’s no money to pay for a replacement worker.

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    Mute Jonathan Brazil
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:03 AM

    Still no paternity leave then? What a gender-equal country we live in. Imagine an announcement reducing maternity leave, there’d be marches on the streets. Meanwhile new fathers still get about 3 days at discretion and in effect aren’t allowed to be any more than a by-stander during the early months due to enforced absence, if they are working.

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    Mute Jolanta Tchorzewska
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:26 PM

    I took all 14weeks of my parental leave, my son is 4.5 now just wondering would i be still entilted to take another 4 weeks ?

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    Mute James Mark Donnelly
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    Mar 10th 2013, 1:09 AM

    As far as I can tell. Yes would be the answer. I see nothing to suggest otherwise. If your child is under 8, then you should be entitled.

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    Mute Jolanta Tchorzewska
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    Mar 9th 2013, 10:32 PM

    I took all 14weeks of my parental leave, my son is 4.5 now just wondering would i be still entilted to take another 40 weeks ?

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