The Minister for Social Protection says new dads need to stop making excuses and take time off to be with their baby.
It comes after the government announced two weeks paid parental leave from this November.
The benefit is for employed and self-employed parents and can’t be transferred to one person.
Minister Regina Doherty says there needs to be a cultural shift around the role of dads:
“One of the excuses that’s given to me since we introduced paternity leave – is the reason that fellas don’t take it is that they ‘can’t afford’ to take it – families plan around women having babies and staying at home and there needs to be a cultural shift…have the conversation about planning for fathers to stay at home in the way mothers do.”
