As new parents, the initial time we have to spend with our child is crucial.
A new Bill is set to be introduced today that would see the amount of parental leave increase to six months, an increase on the current 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child aged eight-years-old and under.
The Social Democrats will bring The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill before the Dáil today, Thursday, February 8th.
It would allow parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected.
The increase on the current maximum of 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child aged eight-years-old and under is the minimum that is allowed under EU law.
Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall said parents need to be allowed more time off work.
"We know that parents are under quite a deal of stress in relation to juggling work and home and childcare responsibilities and so on," she said of the Bill.
"Ireland, really, is very poor in relation to its entitlement to parental leave, and we're bringing forward a Bill so that parents would have a total entitlement of six months unpaid parental leave to take at different stages during their children's childhood."
The Government reportedly won't oppose the Bill, which is expected to pass through to second stage today.
And it has also been reported that the Government intends to bring forward its own future proposals that would also include increases in paid parental leave.
